caught stealing and letter from RLP.

[franky90]

Re: caught stealing and letter from RLP.

You can either completely ignore it (recommended - but they will probably continue to send scary letters) or you can write as suggested quoting the "Oxford Case" and possible Arkell v.Pressdram
http://www.nasw.org/users/nbauman/arkell.htm

Hi again, I have not heard anything since it happened. Does it mean I dont have any criminal record? As far as I know I should have been given a charge sheet but I wasnt, Am I right?

[Kati]

Re: caught stealing and letter from RLP.

Hi again, I have not heard anything since it happened. Does it mean I dont have any criminal record? As far as I know I should have been given a charge sheet but I wasnt, Am I right?

If you weren't given a 'charge sheet' at the time, then I really cannot see you having a criminal record ... although if you were worried about it, you could always make a SAR request under the data protection act (costs £10) to find out - https://www.gov.uk/copy-of-police-records

Personally, I'd let it lie now (treat it as a lesson learnt) but ultimately the choice is yours

K x

[des8]

Re: caught stealing and letter from RLP.

You are correct
If charged with a criminal offence you will be given a charge sheet setting out details of the alleged crime.
If you accept a caution you will be supplied with a copy of the caution form

You will not have a criminal record

[franky90]

Re: caught stealing and letter from RLP.

You are correct
If charged with a criminal offence you will be given a charge sheet setting out details of the alleged crime.
If you accept a caution you will be supplied with a copy of the caution form

You will not have a criminal record

thank you for your reply guys but I don't understand why the police officer said I was charged with shoplifting...
we should take into account it was my first and unique offence also it was a minor one I think

[des8]

Re: caught stealing and letter from RLP.

I don't understand why the police officer said I was charged with shoplifting...

Nor do I:tinysmile_hmm_t2: as you weren't.
Or if you were the police did not follow proper procedure,and as you haven't been to court you will not have a criminal record.

[Kati]

Re: caught stealing and letter from RLP.

I agree with Des ... you haven't been charged (or they didn't follow procedure at all so it wouldn't stand up to scrutiny). Maybe the police officer said it to 'scare' you (soyou would learn from it)?

[franky90]

Re: caught stealing and letter from RLP.

Nor do I:tinysmile_hmm_t2: as you weren't.
Or if you were the police did not follow proper procedure,and as you haven't been to court you will not have a criminal record.

you said I would have given a charge sheet, do you mean right now I should have a copy? Or if I signed one at the station and then they gave me a copy? Is it likely taking into account the small amount? and it was a first offence?

Is it possible I signed it and they kept it?

[des8]

Re: caught stealing and letter from RLP.

If you are charged with an offence you are given a copy of the charge sheet which sets out exactly what you are charged with, which court and when you have to attend.
This is yours to keep!

[franky90]

Re: caught stealing and letter from RLP.

If you are charged with an offence you are given a copy of the charge sheet which sets out exactly what you are charged with, which court and when you have to attend.
This is yours to keep!

okey thank you for your replies!

[franky90]

Re: caught stealing and letter from RLP.

If you are charged with an offence you are given a copy of the charge sheet which sets out exactly what you are charged with, which court and when you have to attend.
This is yours to keep!

this happened in scotland they said all the details would be sent to the procurator and then they would choose how to proceed

[des8]

Re: caught stealing and letter from RLP.

I wish you had mentioned Scotland earlier, or perhaps we should have asked
It seems from what you have said, that you have not been cautioned, nor charged, but that the police have said they are sending a report to the Procurator Fiscal. This means that it is up to the PF to decide whether or not to summons you to court. You will have to wait and see but at present you have no criminal record,nor caution on file. This can take as long as a year to get to court and you may actually never hear anything back.

As this is a first offence, for a very trifling amount, I very much doubt you will hear anything more. However you might like to seek advice from a Scottish solicitor if you are still concerned.

But do not worry about RLP. They will send increasingly threatening letters, and even farm it out to a different DCA, but eventually give up after between 9 & 18 months. Just hold your nerve and ignore them

[Kati]

Re: caught stealing and letter from RLP.

Were you cautioned by the police (read your rights), after being formally charged?

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/scotla...u_are_detained

When will the police charge someone
The police will charge a person when they have enough evidence to prove that they have committed an offence. The charge is a statement which says:-

• what crime the person is charged with; and
• when the crime was committed; and
• where the crime was committed.

If the offence is not a serious one and the police have no reason to doubt that you are normally a law abiding person, you may be charged but not detained any further. Later you may receive a citation from the Procurator Fiscal to appear in court and, for some offences, may be offered the opportunity to plead guilty by letter.
In other, more serious cases, the police may decide to hold you in custody, in a police cell, after arresting and charging you with an offence.

You must be cautioned once you have been charged

If you are charged, the police must caution you that you do not need to say anything in answer to the charge but that you have the opportunity to reply. Any reply that you make will be noted and may be used in evidence.

You might find this link useful too - https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/student...ipline/police/

[franky90]

Re: caught stealing and letter from RLP.

Were you cautioned by the police (read your rights), after being formally charged?

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/scotla...u_are_detained


You might find this link useful too - https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/student...ipline/police/

It was time ago so I dont really remember all the details, however, I do remember they read my rights. I was not given any paper saying what I was charged with. Does it make much difference it happened in Scotland? Like des8 says it is such a small amount it is unlikely I will hear anything about it, we are talking about 16£.

[Kati]

Re: caught stealing and letter from RLP.

It was time ago so I dont really remember all the details, however, I do remember they read my rights. I was not given any paper saying what I was charged with. Does it make much difference it happened in Scotland? Like des8 says it is such a small amount it is unlikely I will hear anything about it, we are talking about 16£.

I do actually agree with [MENTION=39710]des8[/MENTION] I was just trying to clarify it a bit more
K x