Please Help.

[Mrswjen]

Hi all, I really need some advice 2 years ago I stupidly opend 3 catalouges in family's names, at the time my husband was violant toward me and then was posted to Afghanistan and I was on my own with a 3 month old and a 2 year old. I was so depressed and was also suffering from a compulsive disorder. I am not a Nast person I would give any one the shirt off my back. I don't even know what possessed me to do it, I didn't do it out of mall ace or with at intent to anyone I really don't know why I did it. I have never ever been in trouble with the police and my husband is an officer in the British army, well last week my mother checked her credit file and I was found out which led to her phoning the police. They had a appointment at there house tonight with the police, my mobile started ringing and it was my mum so I answered it and it was the police man, I live in Surrey now but it happened in Essex so he asked if I could come to Essex for an voluntary interview and said did I want a solicitor to which I asked well I don't know I have never been in trouble befor he then said that if I had a solicitor it would take hours and hours and I would be kept in a police cell and if I just came in I would just be caution and I would get it sorted. He said if I told the truth all would be ok if I lied I would go to prison. I am very confused as to why he wouldn't want me to have a solicitor I am glad I am getting punished for what I have done my family don't deserve the hurt and pain that I have caused and I love them more then anything I'm just confused as I was expecting to get arrested and have a solicitor? Any help would be greatly appreciated as my husband and I split two weeks ago due to his infedelity and I am on my own in Surrey with 2 very small children thank you please don't judge me I'm really not a nasty person I was I'll xx

[Mrswjen]

I know it does that's what confused me and also my parents said there appointment was at 6 the call was at 9 but I guess the interview could have taken that long I don't know as I said I have never had any dealings with the police before its just the way he said if u are lying the gloves are off and u will go to prision thought that was a bit strange to say on the phone. Ur he may just being trying to help me I really don't know but I am scared whitless

[Answerprancer]

You MUST arrange to have a legal representative. DO NOT listen to anything the police say against this and DO NOT accept a 'duty solicitor' they're often not up to scratch. I bet they told you "it's nothing to worry about" and that they "just want to have a little chat". Your "voluntary interview" (under caution?) will be a taped one and if you decline it they'll probably arrest you.
The police are experts in lulling suspects into a false sense of security.
If you are on a low income, you will probably be entitled to (free) legal aid.
In the meantime DO NOT discuss ANYTHING with the police or answer any questions until you have your legal representative's advice.
Good luck.

[Mrswjen]

He also said he was trying to deal with it a different way but he can't, and he advised me that a caution will effect my work,travel etc xx

[Mrswjen]

That's the first thing he said on the phone was its nothing to worry about we will try and sort this

[1ndex]

Well I hope your mum realises the implications of her charges, a CR will hamper yours and her grandkids lives. It would be your word against hers if you claimed your mum agreed to the purchases - lol

[Mrswjen]

I have caused my family enough hurt and shame I just want to get this over with and hopefully one day rebuild our relation ship I just got very confused as I a, very neieve to all of this

[Mrswjen]

I know I won't ever be able to work in a job where a crb is required etc and I really didn't think my mum would do this but I really don't blame her

[Answerprancer]

Ah. I just read through some of your other responses. If it really was the police, they'd leave a name and number. If they haven't - it looks like someone is jerking you about. Did they give you the address of the police station where they want to to attend this interview?

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

I think your family are at best trying to scare you and at worst trying to get you to go to Essex where who knows what is waiting for you.
I'd ignore it, or ask for a written appointment on headed paper.

[Mrswjen]

No he was calling off my mums phone as the interview was at hers he said he would phone me back to arrange a day for me to come back to Essex for the interview and that the number would be a unknown number but he would state who he was at the beging of the call then asked if I wanted a solicitor and I said I don't know ( my mum would know this) then he sort of scared me into not asking for 1 : s I really don't know what to think, it wasn't a hoax I do think it was a policeman I didn't recognise the voice and I know every 1 my parents know but I don't understand some of the things he said and the way he said it but as I said as he was there with my patents he may had been trying to help me I really don't know

[Gavmacp]

I agree it all sounds very fishy to me. Especially the 'deal with it a different way' bit.

[Mrswjen]

My parents are amazing they are not nasty or vindictive I'm sure nothing nasty would be waiting for me

[Mrswjen]

He said he was trying to deal with it in a different way but as there was 3 accounts involved then he couldn't :s

[Orderlimit]

The catalogue companies really are a burden on the criminal justice system because of their questionable security checks and basically get a free publicly funded debt collection agency from the police and courts.

This is a very common police tactic who use these methods for a few reasons. A crime report for a recordable offence has been created on the local Home Office audited computer and the coppers so-called supervisors demand that the report is only finalised as 'Detected', particularly if the report names a suspect as these are easy targets for performance figures which the higher ranking 'police managers' need to make it look like they actually do some thing. It is much quicker and easier for copper if you admit the offence in full, time wise and paperwork wise. Once you have admitted the offence its not the coppers decision whether your cautioned or charged anyway. The quality of evidence and conduct of the copper is safer for you in the presence of a solicitor who is there to protect and advance your rights and interest. This makes it slightly more work for the officer so they tell you about long spells in cells and so on. The truth is, a solicitor normally has a far better chance of negotiating a caution rather than a charge in any case.

Unfortunately, although I believe most front line coppers have good intentions, they do get conditioned and hounded for detections.

[baza]

if and or when you get the call inviting you to an interview inform the caller that you require a letter on headed paper and you will respond to that.

[Mrswjen]

This is what I thought but surely my parents would know this otherwise they have all literally fed me to the sharks and I will go to prison my mum is like this but there is no way on this earth my dad would let this happen to me unless the police led them into a false sence of security, he also said on the phone that I should tell my husband as it will come out at some point which I thought was quite strange as my mum know what has happend between us and she absolutely hates him :s

[Mrswjen]

The thing is if they are trying to help me then I need to co operate and do as i was told etc and if not then I'm buggered he said he isn't going to come and arrest me he can do it another way

[Orderlimit]

Sorry, I forgot to add, IF charged and convicted you wont go to prison so try and chill.

[Mrswjen]

Im just so scared and my parents know I have no idea about crime and the police etc surely they would have wanted me to get a solicitor ?

[Mrswjen]

He said on the phone will you be admitting to it all and I said yes he then went I won't interview you on the phone that wouldnt be fair :s