Road rules11 mins ago
The Police and the (not) Mentally Ill
Hi, would appreciate your comments on the following. I was recently arrested and charged with a Section 5 Public Order offence. While I will not pretend what I am happy about that, it is not the charge that concerns me, but the conduct of the police in this matter.
The charge is over a dispute with a neighbour, so I was home asleep when the police arrived. Woken I answered the door I was immediately asked by a police person if I was on medication? Before I could answer I was asked if I had taken my medication? I said I don’t know what they were taking about, because I have never had such a thing as medication. I put the comments out of my mind, what with getting arrested and other distractions
A week later I appeared in Magistrates Court to plea not guilty to the charge mentioned above. For the first time I had a glimpse of the police report regarding the case and to my amazement I read that according to the arresting officer I was drunk, and displaying signs of mental illness! I will admit that I had had a few glasses of wine, after all I was at home in bed. But mental illness? I have never had any mental health issues in my life!
I brushed it of again until it occurred to me that in a magistrates court such a defamatory statement is bound to prejudice my case with the judges; because it is entirely a my word against the complainants scenario.
I have recently moved here and was not known by the police at this address. Even if I had recently become mentally ill without realising it, how on earth could the police have known in advance (remember the medication greeting mentioned above) of my supposed condition?
I was perplexed - who would not be? Then I realised that my charge sheet relates to an entirely different but valid address near where I live, not mine! Is this not strange? Comments will be appreciated.
The charge is over a dispute with a neighbour, so I was home asleep when the police arrived. Woken I answered the door I was immediately asked by a police person if I was on medication? Before I could answer I was asked if I had taken my medication? I said I don’t know what they were taking about, because I have never had such a thing as medication. I put the comments out of my mind, what with getting arrested and other distractions
A week later I appeared in Magistrates Court to plea not guilty to the charge mentioned above. For the first time I had a glimpse of the police report regarding the case and to my amazement I read that according to the arresting officer I was drunk, and displaying signs of mental illness! I will admit that I had had a few glasses of wine, after all I was at home in bed. But mental illness? I have never had any mental health issues in my life!
I brushed it of again until it occurred to me that in a magistrates court such a defamatory statement is bound to prejudice my case with the judges; because it is entirely a my word against the complainants scenario.
I have recently moved here and was not known by the police at this address. Even if I had recently become mentally ill without realising it, how on earth could the police have known in advance (remember the medication greeting mentioned above) of my supposed condition?
I was perplexed - who would not be? Then I realised that my charge sheet relates to an entirely different but valid address near where I live, not mine! Is this not strange? Comments will be appreciated.
Answers
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You say you've been charged over a dispute with a neighbour. Maybe they told the police you were mentally ill and on medication?
You need to see a solicitor.
You need to see a solicitor.
17:34 Sun 25th Sep 2011
1 to 9 of 9
