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Arrested in error by the police.

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Marsons | 19:27 Wed 29th Feb 2012 | Law
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I just happened to be in the vicinity where the police were trying to locate a violent criminal ( I understand ).
Unfortunately my description fitted the person in many ways and I was wearing the same colour clothes etc.
As the police thought I was this dangerous criminal I was pushed to a wet floor and my clothes were ruined.
It was the first time I had worn them and they cost me £92.00.
I have complained to the police and asked them to pay but the reply has been it was just an unfortunte set of circumstances.
I am just wandering if I can claim for my ruined clothes.
I have never even spoken to a police officer before except to ask for directions.

Marsons
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Perhaps you need to ask someone higher up. Was it the ones who pushed you to the floor, that you complained about your clothes to? They probably don't want anyone to know that they've made a mistake, so they would have been discouraging you from mentioning it again
You need to phone up the local police station where this happened and ask the receptionist the names of the officers on duty on that date/time, they should give you this information and the details who you can complain to.
Question Author
I complained to an Inspector at the station they were from.
I do not dispute him saying that it was unfortunate and the officers acted in haste as they thought there was danger combined with the fact I was wearing the clothes for the first time.
I just think it is unfair I have to take the consequences.
I have the receipt which was less than 24 hours old.

Marsons.
It doesn't seem to be fair. They should at least have offered to pay for you to get your clothes dry cleaned, and apologised for the horrible shock you had.
Question Author
Ho notafish

I did take the clothes to a dry cleaners.
They said they could get the clothes into a reasonable condition but not new.
If the clothes were several weeks old I would regard this as acceptable but not when they were less than a day old.

Marsons
Ask at three drycleaners for a professional advice.

If the consensus is the same me a claim (I don't know how but you could ask) and write to them explaining the situation and how much it will cost to rectify or replace.

Do it all in writing and always go higher then next time.
Reality check....you want these people to reprimand criminals. Sometimes innocents get caught up in that.
There is an established police complaints procedure. Put in your complaint stating the cost of reinstating your clothes and don't let up.
Ummmm so if the police kick you front door in, break things in your house and the realise its the wrong address you will be happy to pay for the damage?

I think Marsons realises that what you are saying is correct, hes not talking about being compensated for the actions of the police just reasonable replacement.

Marsons I would write to the Superintendent in charge of the local police station, if you don't get a proper reply. Write to the Police Complaints Commission.

Good luck and I think you have an admirable attitude, not sure I would be so forgiving.
Question Author
Hi ummmm

I am not blaming the police officers who arrested me and I do accept it was a very unfortunate set of circumstances.
I just think it is unfair if I lose £92.00 as the crime was nothing to do with me.
I have shown the police the receipt and they agree the clothes were new just by looking at them. In fact the inspector said he could see they were new before he saw the receipt.
It was also unfortunate I was wearing both new trousers and a new jumper. This was very unusual for me.
If the same had happened this time last year it could have been a lot more serious.
I had just had the plaster taken off due to a fractured ankle.
It could have been broken again.
I have taken the clothes to another cleaners and they are of the same opinion.

Marsons
I understand that...sorry.

My OH got arrested not long ago through mistaken identity. I posted out of annoyance.....I'm sorry x
Can you not claim on your insurance policy.
Question Author
Hi Howard

There is a £100 excess on my house insurance policy.
I know somebody near me who had their porch and front door smashed down in a drugs raid about a mile from me.
The police admitted liability as they got the wrong address but there was a dispute as the damage came to over £4,000 as there was an expensive clock smashed near the door.
The police tried to say they would pay for the damage to the doors but it was not reasonable to expect them to pay for a £1,800 clock as well.
The insurance would not pay out for either as it was deliberate action by the police.
The owner of the house had to pay to get the doors fixed and the police would not pay out until the total cost of the damage had been agreed.
This went on for 2 years and the police had to pay the full amount including the clock value.
I thought the door damage should have been paid for immediately even if the broken clock was in dispute.
You are going to need patience and tenacity if you are going to recover the cost of the damage to your personal effects caused by the police. The Chief Constable will probably have a fund for this purpose but the police may try to avoid using this fund, the police can be their own worst enemy in not admitting when an error has been made and making restitution as quickly as possible.
I would make a written complaint to the Chief Constable or the Divisional Commander and ask for the reasonable cost of the clothes that were ruined, if you can include details of independent friendly witnesses this will help. You may have a long battle on your hands but keep pursuing the matter if you feel strongly about the incident.
I did take the clothes to a dry cleaners.
They said they could get the clothes into a reasonable condition but not new.
If the clothes were several weeks old I would regard this as acceptable but not when they were less than a day old.
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I did take the clothes to a dry cleaners.
They said they could get the clothes into a reasonable condition but not new.
If the clothes were several weeks old I would regard this as acceptable but not when they were less than a day old.
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[url=http://www.Investigations.com]new york security guards[/url]
yes keep at this...they will probably umm ans ahhh and hope you just go away...

why did they feel the need to floor you? were you fighting them off?

or did they just come in all gung ho?

i woudl also mention speaking to your local paper about it...that may make them realise that £92 isnt actually that much money to them...

they may demand an exact swap though...they may not just give you the cash, if thats what you are thinking...
if the clothes are still perfectly decent, then maybe ask for some of the cost, not all...say half or 2/3rds...that way you get to keep the clothes, and get cash to buy something else...otherwise you may find yourself with 2 identical outfits...
Question Author
Hi Joko

Sorry I have not come back before.
The police floored me as they thought they were dealing with a dangerous criminal.
The other possible explanation was they were not in uniform or did not show me any card.
Obviously if I had a gun or a weapon showing me a card would have probably given me the opportunity to use it.
From my point of view however I was not sure they were police initially so I did not respond to their instructions quickly.
In the haste I don't think the police noticed I was a 63 year old man.
I take their point to some extent that the clothes I was wearing were not usually worn by a person of my age.
When I visit hospitals etc nurses have thought they have got the wrong medical records.
Several have said on appearance they would have said I was late 40's / early 50's.
I have now written to the chief constable and hopefully I will get a response within the next few days.

Marsons
you could also use your age - in that you are a pensioner and can not afford to have your clothes ruined like this... the papers would be extra interested in that.

as an aside, i find peoples ideas of what older people should look like or wear increasingly strange... many seem unable to escape the idea of the beige mac and slacks, shirt and tie idea of an old man - as though this 'uniform' is universal and permanent... this is the 'uniform' of the 'war era youth'.
The clothing people wear in old age is usually a product of their youth... if you look at photos of them in their younger days you will oftren see similar hairstyles - short waves or short back and sides, court shoes, suits etc... you are a child of the 60s though so no reason why those styles should ever have been near you... your more 'frees spirited' dress sense is indicative of this new wave of 60 year olds... and with every passing decade the next generation of old people will bring their new styles with them...

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