are the police allowed to ring u when ur at home and ask u questions on phone

[MRsnail]

Hi all

silly question but its for a friend - who received a call from a police officer asking some questons about an email he had sent to a ex friend - it contained some swearing in it. The so called officer rang and asked my friend did he know the person in question and did he send the email etc- and that he would be in touch soon , can police do this >?? or is this a wind up - the content of the email was rude to be fair but not threatning - advice please - it was a real police officer as we rang back his constabulary. can they do this??

[missprim]

Sounds like a wind up to me. I think the police have more important things to deal with.

[MRsnail]

Well that is what we thought - we thought it may bea breach of the service - surely they do have better things to do then chase ONE email sent with a bit of bad language thank u

[Maydup]

They can ring up if the recipient has made a formal complaint to them. Besides, if you rang the constabulary and it turned out to be a real police officer then its hardly a wind up. Horses for courses.

[MRsnail]

true- but i am wondering if the officer in question is a friend of the man who complained

[ummmm]

Yes, the police can ring.

[MRsnail]

and ask u questions without even a caution??

[Buenchico]

Anyone who has your phone number can ring you up and ask you whatever questions they like but, of course, you're never obliged to answer any of them!

Calls made from a police officer to a member of the public would not normally be recorded. (If a recording was to be made you should have been notified). So anything your friend said couldn't be used in court. However that doesn't bar the police from simply asking some questions to get some basic information from someone.

[Craftypig]

You say that you rang the police to see if it was a real police officer, but did you check to see if he was on duty at the time of the call?

[EDDIE51]

If some one has made a complaint it is common for the police to make an enquiry by phone.
A police officer CAN NOT make his/her own personal enquiries for a friend, that would be a serious offence. As the police station confirmed that the call was genuine it is not a wind up.

[EDDIE51]

You only get cautioned after arrest, that is the well known ''anything you say may be given in evidence'' statement they have to make. The police can just ask questions they do it all the time. How do you think they investigate anything if they can't ask questions ?

[Old Salt]

A good interrogator can glean a lot of information from someone just by how they answer certain types of questions; the questions are based on the complaint they are investigating. The way you talk and act over the phone also transmits details about the type of person you are likely to be.

I was not in the police, but I have interviewed people over the phone regarding legal and business problems. I'm sure many a policeman has used the phone to determine if a complaint justified sending someone for a proper interrogation; also it would give him or her an idea of how many officers may be required.

Old Salt

[Old Salt]

And here's an, "Oh by the way......"

I'd make absolutely sure that when I call the police station, or anyone for that matter, regarding their activities, I didn't give them the impression that I was checking up on them, or worse yet, suspect that they were not doing their job properly.

It's not about being timid, it's about getting cooperation.

Just a thought
OS

[starone]

Yes. it obviously saves time and man-hours if it can be resolved over the phone. However, you do not have to answer and if it is serious enough a policeman or men will visit. I have noticed that if it is really bad it will be two or more, if one turns up, don't worry. Also they have no right to come into your house unless you give them permission or unless they have a search warrant.

[AlBags]

That's us in the crap then Ummm : )

[ummmm]

Won't be the first time ;-)

[AlBags]

likewise

Must send a few more sweary emails. : )

[ummmm]

Be easy on the filth this time :-)

[AlBags]

and you ... ok? : )