Police Statements UK?

Question

Recently my two daughters cases of sexual abuse by a freind was dropped by the police through lack of evidence. The problem in my mind is that i beleive that there was more to the statements than i was led to beleive. What i'm asking if there is some sort of regulation allowing me to read the statements under some sort of freedom of information. Thank You in advance from a desperate father

Answer 1

Statements are a confidential document for Police and criminal evidence use only.

However, depending on the age of your daughters, the statements may have been recorded (like an interview would be)

If this is the case then 3 copies of the tape should have been made

1. A master copy
2. A spare in case of loss or damage
3. A copy made available to the victim/witness or defendant if he or she wishes to have it

If the statements were recorded however it is only your daughters that can gain access to these tapes and you as a father have no legal grounds to listen to them unless they are under the age of 16

Answer 2

No you cant read the statements there is no regulation allowing you to do so.Contrary to what someone else here said if there was a recording or video you cant have those either only defendants get a copy of tapes not witnesses.If your daughters were juveniles when they made the statements someone other than the police would be there ,they may possibly be able to help you.

Answer 3

I'm sorry but you must take legal advice on this. I have some legal experience but the only way to confirm that some of the information on the statements has been suppressed would be to consult a solicitor. To be honest, I think it unlikely that this is the case because the police would be aware that you could make a formal request to see the statements and they would be in big trouble if this was shown to be the case.

Please don't take that the wrong way, I'm not suggesting that you are fabricating anything it's just that these days it is very difficult to prove sexual abuse but I wish you all the best on this difficult issue.

Answer 4

Statements made to police are restricted documents upon completion, and are subject to not just data protection act, But also the Police and criminal evidence act as well as the home office victims charter.

The only way you can see it is if you were the appropriate adult for the witness (and that still needs their consent) or if the witness that made the statement requests a copy and allows you to see it.

I understand your predicament but the law has to protect the witnesses from everybody even from well meaning parents.

Answer 5

in the united kingdom once you supply a assertion to the police there's a area on the main superb of the 1st website, which you sign on the top of the assertion which states that "while you're making a assertion this is fake or which you think to be untrue" then you certainly would be in possibility of prosecution. in case you bypass to courtroom and supply untrue info then you certainly would be committing a greater severe offence than in case you tell the police till now it gets to courtroom. If a pretend assertion you have given is being utilized in a prosecution then there is an threat that a guy or woman is in detention center on the grounds which you lied. The police might desire to fee you with dropping police time or attempting to pervert the direction of justice, in elementary terms for signing the fake assertion. If it have been given to courtroom the offence may be perjury. besides the fact that as a question of certainty, enable the police be attentive to on the earliest threat, it rather will make your life less demanding in the lengthy run.

Answer 6

Invoke the Freedom of Information Act

Answer 7

Statements made to the police are treated as utterly confidential. They can (and indeed must) be disclosed to lawyers acting in a case and to officers of the court and to the person originally making them, but otherwise nobody gets to see them. It is obviously very painful and frustrating from your point of view, but that is the position.

Answer 8

The irony is that the victim, witness or family are NOT entitled to copies of written or video evidence but a defendant and / or his solicitor are.

Yet again the offender has more rights than the victim and their family. British justice?

Answer 9

sorry i cant help with information however i really wish you best luck in looking into taking things further
maybe a lawyer could give you this information

Answer 10

consult the chief inspector or consult a lawyer