"House to house enquiries"

[Buenchico]

As I'm typing this there's a sketch on BBC Radio 7 about a guy who goes into a wild (and completely illogical) panic when the police call upon him in connection with a murder along the road.

It seems completely silly that anyone could react that way but only last Saturday I was in a similar position. The old lady opposite me had been found dead and the police were conducting house to house enquiries. I found myself going into 'ultra defensive mode' and expecting to be arrested for murder at any minute! (I assume that they eventually decided that there was nothing suspicious about her death because the lines of police cars disappeared a few hours later).

Has anyone else ever found themself feeling guilty for something they've not done?

[sherrardk]

I pulled up outside out house and a police car pulled in behind me. Straight away, the (young) policeman said something along the lines of 'don't panic, love' and explained what they wanted. Not a murder inquiry or anything but I just went to pieces (my biggest fear is being sent to jail!).

[regulo]

A week after Georgie Markov was shot in the leg with ricin from an umbrella, me and a pal were walking on Waterloo Bridge where the foul deed was done. As we descended the stairs on the South-West side of the bridge, we were accosted by two of the biggest, nastiest looking cops I've ever seen. One of them, flat peaked cap pulled down on his nose, put his face about 2" from mine, and demanded to know where we were at this time last week. I totally went blank, and in that instant couldn't remember where I'd been 5 minutes ago, let alone last week. I mumbled and muttered some made-up claptrap, and with a disgusted snarl was told to "carry on gentlemen". I never polished off Mr Markov, but I nearly confessed there and then! I'd be hopeless under interrogation!

[Buenchico]

Thanks for your reply, Sherrardk. Just keep crossing your fingers that the Old Bill won't find out what you've REALLY been up to ;-)

[Buenchico]

Thanks for that Regulo.

A friend of mine lived on the street where one of the Yorkshire Ripper murders took place. He felt the same way as you did on the first time that he was stopped and questioned. He felt the same way again on the second time he was stopped and questioned, But, by the eighth time (in a week!) that he was stopped and questioned he decided to express his views about the investigation in 'a somewhat negative manner'. He never got stopped again!
;-)

[regulo]

Like sherrardk, I also go to pieces when I see flashing blue lights approaching from behind, even though I've done nothing wrong and everything about my car and documentation is perfect. Why does that happen? Even worse is when a police car is simply following me in traffic. I'm normally a confident, capable driver, but that tips me into "nervous learner" territory. A mistake becomes inevitable! Mind you, the only accident I've had in 40 years on the road, was when a policewoman drove into the back of my car while I was stationary in traffic - her explanation . . her police radio had fallen off her tunic, and she was trying to pick it up!

[jaydah]

Men living alone are vulnerable to having felonies pinned on them for police to have a quick 'result', ie Jill Dando & the woman on Hampstead Heath (?)

Get a tenant, Chris

[Buenchico]

Thanks again, Regulo.

I used to be a 'trade plater', delivering cars across the country. On a few occasions I got to drive fully liveried police cars. They normally had tape across the word 'Police' along the side of the car but, coming up behind another vehicle, it must have seemed to the driver in front that he was being followed by 'the law'. It was quite amusing to watch the way that they suddenly started to observe speed limits and drop back from the vehicle in front ;-)

[Buenchico]

Thanks for your post, Jaydah.

On a serious note, one of the reasons why I always go out on Halloween is because, as a single fella, I feel that I can't win when it comes to 'trick or treat'. I know that if I don't offer sweets I'll be regarded as 'mean and stingy' but if I do I'll risk being accused of encouraging young children to visit my house (with all of the implications that go along with that).

[regulo]

In the late 70's I had a White Rover SDI, same as the motorway police. When I put the roof rack on, for some reason everyone moved over for me! Wonder why? :-)

[Buenchico]

I think I know the reason why, Regulo ;-)

My last car was nothing more than a white Mondeo but, particularly when the light was failing, it could still produce interesting results when I sat behind other drivers ;-)

By coincidence I'd often wondered about its past, as the service history showed that it had always been maintained and MOT'd by a county council. It wasn't until (nearly a year after I'd bought it) that I tried to wind the rear windows down, and then I finally worked out where it had come from. Both windows would only go down by a few inches, in order to ensure that arrested offenders couldn't use that means of escape. Yes, my vehicle really had been a police car!