Arrest when totally innocent

[ellisgord27]

I wondered if anybody can help with my question, I am really worried sick.
I run a business and above my shop is a flat which I rent out.
The tennant has been there 4 years and I have never had any problems, her rent is paid by the benefits office.
On Monday the police raided the flat and found roomfuls of stolen property, the first I knew of this was when 2 CID officers called at my shop on Wednesday to ask me about the flat.
I had not been in the flat for a good twelve months and did not have a key to the flat. This is due to the tenant having suffered a break in and renewing the door. I have asked for keys but didn't press the matter as I didn't encounter any problems with the tenant.
Anyway the police said I would have to go to the station with them, at this I nearly died of fright. I am a 57 year old woman who has never been inside a police station.
The police were really nice and said I could go later when I had finished work and closed the business for the day.
I went and was formally arrested DNA and fingerprints taken, I was really upset but wanted to assist in any way I could. The police kept trying to reassure me it was all formality and not to worry. They offered a solicitor but I said no because I had done nothing wrong and in any case I would have been there much longer waiting for a solicitor.
So I didn't have to be held in a cell they arranged for an officer to sit with me. Everything was very polite but I still felt sick to the stomach that I could be connected with something so degrading I was totally embarrased.
Anyway they did everything as quick as possible (I was there 2 hours) I gave a taped interview which lasted about 10 mins. I truly thought I was just helping so was heartbroke when they said I was now on bail and had to go back. They said they hoped they would be able to inform me by letter that this wasn't necessary but it all depended on what other people they arrested and

[puddicat]

legarse what a load of crap

[no-knowledge]

tell us a joke about paedophiles pudditw@t
you like laughing at paedophiles references don't you?

[ellisgord27]

I'm sorry but my post appears incomplete. My tennant has now disappeared. I am sick with worry about all this. I can't eat or sleep. Can anybody advise what might happen?

[paraffin]

Hi ellisgord:

What were you arrested for? Handling or receiving stolen goods? You haven't said.

When are you on Bail until? The date will be on your Bail sheet.

Plus, not a criticism but a piece of advice, if re-arrested or re-interviewed I would strongly advise you to request a solicitor. I realise it takes longer, having to wait for one to arrive etc etc, but it is vital that your rights are safeguarded.

If you can provide the above details I may be able to advise you further.

[ellisgord27]

Thank you so much for replying. I was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods. I haven't even set eyes on the goods.
The bail date is 1st June there are no conditions attached. Since wednesday they have arrested another 5 people one is held in custody but my tenant has still not been found. I do not know any of the other people.

[Rollo]

If you do have to go back to the Police Station to answer bail I would recommend you go their with a Solicitor - one you have retained yourself, rather than relying on the "duty solicitor" that would be provided for you.

[ellisgord27]

Thanks Rollo I just can't get my head round the fact that I am caught up in something that is a million miles from my way of living. I can't even discuss it with my husband I feel so ashamed and yet I am totally innocent. I don't want to go out because I feel people know and are stareing, I don't want to open the shop
I just want the whole thing to go away.

[MWB]

LOL! It's an very amusing load of crap though.

I'm your tenant, leg - I mean, ellisgord27 & I was the one who rang the filth, just to get you in trouble.

You charged too much rent, ya grasping bugg@r & there was rats & cockroaches going by the names of gormless & puddicat & others.

[sara3]

and what evidence did they put to you during your Interview Under Caution?

[ellisgord27]

MWB i'm sorry but I don't share your view that it's a load of amusing crap, at this moment I cannot laugh at anything. If you don't want to or cannot help please don't reply.
Sara to answer your question all I was told was that they had recovered a great deal of stolen property. They asked if I could remember when I last went into the flat, I couldn't remember the exact date but I knew it was when a window had been broken which was last July. Apparently the goods were stolen in January this year. They asked if I had seen any unusual vehicles vans or trailers near the property, as my business is situated in the middle of an industrial estate and I am often surrounded by trailers etc. this was a hard question.

[sara3]

this isn't my area of expertise but I don't see that they have any evidence against you. I can't see how they would proceed, or that the CPS would take it on.

that said, perhaps you should get some legal advice just for your peace of mind.

[ellisgord27]

Thanks for taking the time to reply Sara

[katiecarol]

you had a decent tenant but they obviousely turned out to be the opposite. advice from a solicitor is what you need. but for the future ask for a tenants passport then you may get a better idea of if your tenant is okay or just appearing to be so. perhaps put a clause in the contract regarding this sort of thing. Ask your solicitor if he can advise you on any checks you can make on a prospective tenant. ask for a bond or a guarantor for one if you don't already. i've found it difficult to find accomodation because of all these conditions but in the end you want your property respected.

[ellisgord27]

Thanks Katie.

[themas]

I may be too simple minded, but to me it beggars belief that they can arrest you without any evidence at all, just because you happen to be the landlady of the flat concerned. What grounds did they have for their "suspicion" that you had been handling stolen goods?

Yes, it was reasonable for them to question you, but it is not impossible to do that in a sensitive way without going through the arrest procedure and taking fingerprints and DNA (which, of course, will be kept on record permanently unless the Government actually implements the EU ruling).

You really must get a solicitor before you have to go back, & make sure you are not interviewed again without the solicitor.

As for MWB's post, its a pity that some posters on here seem to delight in putting on moronic idiotic useless posts. You should have enough humanity to understand that this is a serious matter & not one to be treated in such a manner. You might think your post is humorous but it isn't - just pathetic.

[davec886]

This is exactly the sort of enquiry that gets the Police a bad name. I'm afraid that until they have had the chance to interview you they must take the view that you MAY have some guilty knowledge. Police enquiries are guided and informed by CPs and it is probably they that instigated this line of enquiry. I'm sure that the Police will have realised already that you are innocent, bail is a matter of routine until they get CPS to formally accept your lack of involvement. The fact that the interview lasted only 10 minutes suggests they have no evidence to put to you. It appears they were as sensitive as they could have been under the circumstances and I'm sure it will all be ok in the end. However I would always advocate having a solicitor present even if it does take longer.

[ellisgord27]

Themas and Dave thank you so much for your very helpful answers. It is much appreciated.

[themas]

Dave - are you really saying that the police have no alternative but to arrest everyone they come across who lives or is in the vicinity of a crime scene? I don't believe it - even in the way things are conducted nowadays they must have some ability to use their commonsense and discretion. Why could they not have interviewed ellisgord as a witness?

[ellisgord27]

Themas that is what I thought. In my innocence or stupidity, I thought I was going to the police station to tell them what I know about this tennant. I nearly died when they explained what formaly arrested means then when I had to give fingerprints etc. I was truly very very upset. I know to some people they would take an incident like this in their stride, but I can honestly say this has really upset me.