Can The Police Freeze My Bank Account Without Telling Me?

[JML82]

I am a suspect in a fraud case, and 4 months ago my account was Frozen, the bank said to call a Solicitor and the police said it was nothing to do with them.

Now 4 months on, the police are saying it is them (I thought it was) but shoudl I have not known about it? Maybe a letter? But I heard nothing.

Or can the police do it without your knowledge?

[fiction-factory]

Did you use a solicitor?

[EDDIE51]

If they warned you they were going to freeze your bank accounts it would be pointless as you would just clear them all out. I think they need a court order.

[Barmaid]

Yes the police can. They dont notify you either. until after the event. However, you should have been served with a copy of the court order allowing them to do so.

I would contact a solicitor.

[ubasses]

A Bank can freeze an account under certain circumstances, and one is if the bank has been notified of a dispute over either funds ownership or account operation. So if the Police advised the Bank that they suspected funds in the account to be fraudulently obtained the Bank would act accordingly.

[JML82]

Ok thanks for the details, but I understand them not telling me and doing it so I don't 'hide' the funds but I never recieved any court order or nothing, online it says I would of had a right to appeal, which I would like to have done.

As i never recieved anything and the police repeatedly told us it was nothing to do with them could this be classed as illegal?

[KARL]

As you clearly understand, under some circumstances the police must act without prior notification in order to secure evidence, assets, records, etc. However, after the event one would expect a police force in an advanced, civilised country to be open and proper and moreover that a clear, publicly established and fully followed procedure is in place - hoping that it is equitable, thorough and entirely sensible might be too much to ask for in some places. The question is whether this applies in the UK, what type of country it is.

But the other very obvious question is whether you have appointed, or at least consulted, a lawyer - the impression you give is that you have not. It seems to me this would be very unwise, the situation is not going to spuriously disappear and you need to at least get a certain minimum of authoritative advice.

[EDDIE51]

As said you need to ask a solicitor who can investigate all the circumstances.
We can only do what we have already done, confirm the police can do it.

[JML82]

I have spoke with one, well I have one on legal aid and they keep saying 'you should of recieved a letter', should I ask them to look into it more or would it be a waste of time?

[donny48]

There are two cases concerning fraud at the moment on this forum, this one and one posted by ChampoGalore, they are not the same case or poster are they ?

[Peter Pedant]

Listen to the lady ( Barmaid )
yes they can
one sided petition ( used to be called ex parte )
defended ex parte applications have a highish proportion of - not being granted. which kinda explains why itis always ex parte

no - lying to you isnt illegal and the police do it commonly

and should they have informed you afterwards ?
yes but forget the fact that they didnt ...
are you sure you didnt throw it away ?
you gain nothing by the police saying "o we should have done and didnt - Friday afternoon and we are very very sorry "
it doesnt invalidate the freezing order in case that is in the back of your mind

and if you are on legal aid - is it fraud or money laundering ?
concentrate on the matter in hand ( the investigation )
they can do all sorts of unpleasant things
like ask you to show the money in the account is lawfully acquired
( and they keep it if you cant )

only you know if they police have a point or not
and dont tell us for chrissakes .....

[trt]

How are you living from day to day, bills etc?

Do they freeze your direct debits etc?