How Can I get hold of cctv prior to an incident

[rizpick]

Sorry to pose so many questions here, but last one for a while! I was shown cctv footage of an incident I was involved with. We were only showed the incident from our involvement. It has rescently come to light that the victims were aggresive not only to us but other people prior to us hurling abuse at a couple and trying to kick their dog. I was wondering what the procedures are to obtain the cctv of the are prior to the instance. Does it get erased after a certain time and is it something I can apply for personaly?

I saw this cliprescently https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJvLTWGs-SE and many comments have been made that the drag queens were not prosecuted because the nature of the aggresors prior to the incident. I am currently in a very similar situation which looks almost identical to the video (not dressed in drag) but eating food at the start of the attack.

[Davethedog]

How long ago? If you have legal representation, they would be the best to ask for it.
If it was shown to you by the Police they should have the whole thing?

[rizpick]

It was nearly 4 mths ago. It was weird, they didnt show me all of it, I am guessing there must have been clips of the area prior to it as the camera hasnt panned across to us, it seemed to be fixed on this area from the start? Also the camera are dotted through out this street so I imagine there covering sections. I have a solicitor\legal rep and have asked him about it but he seems reluctant to pursue it. Should i be writing to the police or to the cctv operators?

[Mike25]

I would be asking my solicitor to get it. I think it would make a big difference to the case if it shows the "victims" harssing people before hand. The police (CPS) are only interested in finding you guilty, they don't want you to get off are it costs them! Can't understand why your solicitor seems reluctant to pursue it, are you pleading guilty?

[rizpick]

Hey Mike, Thanks for the post. I am not sure what to plead right now. I guess it depends on what cctv I can get hold of. There are a lot of things that I have read online that seems to scare you into an early guilty plea even if you were not the agressor and the 'victims' injuries were minor. My solicitor just wants to wait until I am charged before pursuing this, yet I am worried as it was almost 4 months ago and am worried the 'not needed' parts deemed by the police may not be available anymore!

[Mike25]

If I was you I would plead not guilty in the sense you were provoked! To many statements are needed in your case because alot of people were involved, all drunk and in the early hours of the morning. There will be to many discrepancies in their statements and your solicitor will play on these. Don't be afraid to plead not guilty, they have to prove you guilty beyond resonable doubt, how can they prove you weren't provoked or felt in danger yourself!
I am going through the same thing myself at the minute only a bit more serious. I am pleading not guilty. A guilty plea might get you "UP TO" a third off (maybe nothing), a not guilty plea might get you off.
If they courts thing you might or could of been provoked or felt in danger they will have to left you off because there is reasonable doubt! The CPS might argue you used excess force though but you can argue you felt in danger for your life as they were getting up and acting aggressive, swearing etc. They might not even turn up to court and it gets thrown out, but if you plead guilty they don't need to turn up.

[rizpick]

Thanks Mike. I appreciate the advice. Hows it going in your case? Any more news? I have been reading the new sentencing guidelines that are being introduced in june. From reading your posts it doesnt look like the CPS have a leg to stand on.

[Mike25]

My case is going fine i think, haven't heard anything so no news is good news in my book. My case will be heard on 29th June, I look forward to putting this all behind me.
Hope everything works out for you, remember its not about the truth, its about getting off!