Learnt a bad lesson today

[Elen Sentier]

I just went and looked at this ...

[h=3]Before you’re searched[/h] Before you’re searched the police officer must tell you:

• their name and police station
• what they expect to find, eg drugs
• the reason they want to search you, eg it looks like you’re hiding something
• why they are legally allowed to search you
• that you can have a record of the search and if this isn’t possible at the time, how you can get a copy

Did they do all this for you? See https://www.gov.uk/police-powers-to-stop-and-search-your-rights

 

[Mouse040]

Yes they did search me very officially and were quite respectfully about how they conducted theirselves if I'm to be honest and in answer to your question I would not think that this was in reaction to a complaint as I've not had any bad feeling with anyone
I am waiting for the cab to open I will share what advise I'm given

 

[mrcharly]

Good luck.

What happened to you is absolutely ridiculous. I can only imagine that the officer had been given misleading guidance by his superiors (if he was just anti sharp objects he would have taken the axe and crook knife as well).

I've been searched on a train station when my bag contained a locking sak with a 4" blade - no issue at all, reasonable behaviour accepted. I wasn't even asked why I had it in my bag.

 

[Swallow]

@All

do we reckon it is worth mentioning the value of the knife and what a signficant blow it is to finances? given that it shows investment into the hobby of bushcraft along with the other tools?

 

[Tiley]

I'd rather have ten warnings and my knife than no knife and a clean sheet

I'll give you a replacement knife. Honestly, I will. Just make very sure that that warning is taken off your file. A knife, no matter how attached to it you are, is just a thing at the end of the day, and an easily replaced one at that; a warning will blight you for a long time to come and in many unexpected ways.

Good luck; let us know how it goes.

 

[Elen Sentier]

Yes they did search me very officially and were quite respectfully about how they conducted theirselves if I'm to be honest and in answer to your question I would not thick that this was in reaction to a complaint as I've not had any bad feeling with anyone
I am waiting for the cab to open I will share what advise I'm given

Sorry - what I meant was did they tell you all that before they searched you? They're supposed to tell you before the search.

Glad it's not a grudge - does occasionally happen, most unpleasant!

 

[Mouse040]

Right I have a appointment with a solicitor who is happy to help and accompany me to the station cab were not much help as they said it is down to the officer to make the distinction on wether I'm a risk to myself or others whilst in possession of a sharp and getting a senior officer to retract this would be difficult ( rightly or wrongly ) so I'm off now to give it a go as I have to meet the solicitor before we go to fill him in

I never would of thought I would be doing this today when I got out of bed yesterday

I will update when I'm back

 

[yarrow]

I think Red was the first to mention it - get professional legal advice! My brother-in-law is a barrister my sister is a solicitor, ran this by them last night; advice was take a solicitor with you! They said you should be able to get this all cleared up without too much trouble. I hope it goes well for you.

 

[Mesquite]

Right I have a appointment with a solicitor who is happy to help and accompany me to the station cab were not much help as they said it is down to the officer to make the distinction on wether I'm a risk to myself or others whilst in possession of a sharp and getting a senior officer to retract this would be difficult ( rightly or wrongly ) so I'm off now to give it a go as I have to meet the solicitor before we go to fill him in

I never would of thought I would be doing this today when I got out of bed yesterday

I will update when I'm back

Good luck with it

 

[dwardo]

Good luck with it

Good show. Just keep your head and remember you had no malicious intent. Hopefully this will just be a mistake that will be rectified. Getting your knife back would be a bonus but having your name cleared should be your main aim. Being a silly young lad I have a few marks against my name that are ten years old but still haunt me today in certain circumstances.

 

[Andy BB]

Delighted you've got a solicitor with you - best move you could have made.

Best of luck.

 

[Dave]

Well done on getting a solicitor.

IMO the police have strayed far from their 'peelers' beginnings, and frankly, I just dont like the entire organisation.

 

[Bartooon]

Delighted you've got a solicitor with you - best move you could have made.

Best of luck.

What really stinks though is that even if Mouse040 gets his knife back and the warning withdrawn, he still be out of pocket after paying for the solicitor. I have to say this whole sorry saga makes my blood boil! Good luck Mouse040 - we are all with you in spirit!

 

[9InchNinja]

Good luck!

 

[Dave]

What really stinks though is that even if Mouse040 gets his knife back and the warning withdrawn, he still be out of pocket after paying for the solicitor. I have to say this whole sorry saga makes my blood boil! Good luck Mouse040 - we are all with you in spirit!

He will be able to claim for his costs from the other side.
In a commerical dispute you sometimes only get back around 80% of costs though. Something to ask the solicitor.
Dont know how it would work here, but If anyones passing a hat around, I would be willing to slip a few quid in, if he does not recieve his full costs, as something like this affects us all.

If you dont mind Mouse040, would you inform us of the financial costs involved?
How much it costs you to retain the services of the solicitor?
If youre entire costs were met by the police, if you are sucessful in your claim?
If you were entitled to any legal aid etc?

This problem is sure to rise again, and most people would not go as far as taking the police to court, for fear of the unknown, and the cost involved.

Thankyou.

 

[salad]

They picked up on that. This is the product of social conditioning and it p****s me off that a decent, well meaning chap is made to feel like a criminal.

I can relate to this, I have been living away from the UK for over 2 years now and it has taken this long to stop feeling weird getting my knife out in public to cut some salami or do some other Job .
Its really normal here to see some one get out a knife and use it for a task then put it away again,

I remember when I first moved here and I was on a train with my brother in-law (hes not British) , we where heading off for a few days trekking together and he got his fixed blade out to cut some food on the train, I kept thinking "god man just put it away" but know one even batted an eyelid at a hiker with a knife .

It really has taken a long time to stop feeling like I am doing something wrong when I get my knife out in a public place

 

[dwardo]

He will be able to claim for his costs from the other side.
In a commerical dispute you sometimes only get back around 80% of costs though. Something to ask the solicitor.
Dont know how it would work here, but If anyones passing a hat around, I would be willing to slip a few quid in, if he does not recieve his full costs, as something like this affects us all.

If you dont mind Mouse040, would you inform us of the financial costs involved?
How much it costs you to retain the services of the solicitor?
If youre entire costs were met by the police, if you are sucessful in your claim?
If you were entitled to any legal aid etc?

This problem is sure to rise again, and most people would not go as far as taking the police to court, for fear of the unknown, and the cost involved.

Thankyou.

Thats what I love about this place. I can also spare a few PayPal pennies if you end up out of pocket.

 

[Dave]

Thats what I love about this place. I can also spare a few PayPal pennies if you end up out of pocket.

I notice Mouse040 is quite new to the forum. The offer was made with the best intentions, and on the assumption that he is not some sort of serial offender, well known to the police, and his portrayal of the events is accurate.

People should really fill in their 'about me' page, a bit more, so we can get an get an idea of their age and background etc..
Just a thought....

If you can keep us informed of the court case, Mouse040 from beginning to end, and publish all the costs involved, including, when you win your case, any losses you have incurred, it would be helpful to others.

Best, Dave

 

[VANDEEN]

AS I said back in post #28

> Legal insurance is often provided on your house/car insurance & some credit cards, if you want to go down that route it may pay you to investigate it.


I work in a very legislation driven industry, I have to read small print.

In cases like the OP's the included legal benefits provided FOC with products he may already have would be a godsend.
So I stand by, if you've already payed for it and are entitled to it for goodness sake use it.
Read and learn the small print or ignore at your own costs.

 

[Lyope]

I'm very concerned by the manner in which you were stop / searched. The officer concerned should have had reasonable suspicion that you were breaking the law in some way before he searched you.

Liberty has some great resources on reasonable suspicion here.

I very much hope that today's meeting goes well and that you get back both your knife and your confidence in the police.