Help - my son

[allatsea]

Thanks everyone. We are going away for a few days to try and be 'normal' whatever that is anymore.

[alex-heart]

hey there

hey, just read that thread. i'm at court for the "apparent " rape of my ex. she only came out with this the day she received a letter from my solicitor telling her i was taking her to court for access to my son. will keep you aprised of the situation and let you know how it goes. i just can't beleive some women think this is the "get out of jail free" card not knowing what it does to people like us.

in court 11th aug

wish me luck against the lies

Alex

[allatsea]

Well we are back. My son seems to be trusting in the system to see that this girl is lying and seems to think it will all be over quickly. I have seen the other side. A question - the police took his mobile phone (they seem to do this automatically whether they have reason or not). Son is tied in to a 24 month contract which only started in April. What is a reasonable amount of time for the police to take whatever information they think might be on the phone? It is not vital to the alleged 'crime' in as much as it wasn't used as a weapon, has fingerprints on it etc? Son has contacted his service provider and they won't do anything without police confirmation. Police don't want to know. He is paying £40 a month for a phone he can't use. I ask this bearing in mind a phone company can transfer data to a new phone in minutes when you upgrade, so surely any info the police want can be confirmed fairly quickly?

[LS]

The only possible information which would be on the phone only, are text messages. Call records would be on the SIM card, and voicemail records would be stored offline with the phone provider.
In all, I can't see any reason for the police to seize his phone except if it was a camera phone and they were looking for any photos or videos on it to back up her story.

Most technology goes to a company called CCL in Cambridgeshire for inspection, as I found out when my pc was seized. I would say a month is more than adequate for them to run tests. However, neither the police or CCL can/will be bullied, so I would just advise biding your time.

[Rights Fighter]

I think that as there are so many allegations being made (false and genuine) that there will be a backlog, as there are for computers and hard drives, for investigation. I would suggest that you write (not email) to the OIC (first) to explain the problem making sure there is a "cc: to your MP" - even if you don't send it to your MP at this stage, it might persuade him/her work more quickly. Make sure ithe letter is polite, not demanding and explains the problem with the contract and money being spent for not having use of it.

Your lad could also explain to the telephone provider - but that could prove embarrassing.

[allatsea]

Thanks for the replies. Yes it is a camera phone. Service provider, as I said, won't do anything. I have found out from a different source this morning that they will hold on to the phone for however long it takes IF there is something on it they feel is 'evidence' and won't transer info so as to 'preserve the integrity' of the evidence. With this in mind we will ask our solicitor to retrieve it after a reasonable time - she said six weeks is reasonable. Son basically said he didn't use it throughout his time with her except to call a taxi - but knowing the police that is probably 'evidence' enough for them to hang on to it.

[Rights Fighter]

Thanks for the replies. Yes it is a camera phone. Service provider, as I said, won't do anything. I have found out from a different source this morning that they will hold on to the phone for however long it takes IF there is something on it they feel is 'evidence' and won't transer info so as to 'preserve the integrity' of the evidence. With this in mind we will ask our solicitor to retrieve it after a reasonable time - she said six weeks is reasonable. Son basically said he didn't use it throughout his time with her except to call a taxi - but knowing the police that is probably 'evidence' enough for them to hang on to it.

Have you explained the circumstances to the provider?

[mouse]

Help my son

I have been reading through the threads on this forum and seen the same story time and time again. Last week my son slept with a girl. The next morning he kissed her goodbye at 6 am and came home. At 10 am the police were on our doorstep arresting him for raping this girl. He says it was absolutely consensual - he even liked her so much he was going to call her that morning with a view to seeing her and even forming a more long term relationship (he liked her that much). We found out almost straight away that she has a long-time boyfriend who is very jealous and controlling. It seems that she slept with my son and was then afraid to admit to her bf that it was consensual - it turns out that this girl is the friend of my middle son's girlfriend and she describes her as a 'compulsive liar'. Of course, this doesn't help us. We have done the right things, it seems, by getting a good criminal solicitor and advising our son not to say anything to the police without the solicitor present. Our son gave the solicitor permission to tell us anything and everything (he is 18 and an adult) and she said she didn't want to 'get our hopes up' but son gave very good account of himself and the sex was 'obviously consensual'. He has been released on bail with no restrictions on it other than to turn up in October (for reasons I can't go into the police are being very accomodating about return dates etc). The girl who owns the flat this was supposed to have happened in actually phoned our house 48 hours later to see how our son was and say she had been interviewed by the police and that she didn't believe our son did what this girl said he had. I just feel totally lost and can hardly function. Our son will only go to the supermarket or stay in. Nothing else to say really except that I don't trust our justice system. Son is in an occupation that will see him thrown out immediately if he is convicted for something he didn't do.

You seem to have done all the right things & as with previous thread police can keep bailing your son almost indefinitely keeping him in limbo. A lot depends on the integrity of the OIC & what pressure he is under to get convictions. You are right not to trust justice system. Concerned at your sons job even if found innocent it will still go on CRB check as soft info and could end up with hiim losing it. Get your son to keep all receipts and if possible make purchases on card in case she tries to add to her original story if she feels she's losing at least he can prove movements then to solicitor not police. All you can do now is support him and get his friends round him, he will soon find out who his real friends are....

[mouse]

Help My Son Phone

Thanks for the replies. Yes it is a camera phone. Service provider, as I said, won't do anything. I have found out from a different source this morning that they will hold on to the phone for however long it takes IF there is something on it they feel is 'evidence' and won't transer info so as to 'preserve the integrity' of the evidence. With this in mind we will ask our solicitor to retrieve it after a reasonable time - she said six weeks is reasonable. Son basically said he didn't use it throughout his time with her except to call a taxi - but knowing the police that is probably 'evidence' enough for them to hang on to it.

His service provider can send him a new sim card with same number on if he explains, they have it a lot now, so all he needs do is get a cheap phone for time being and put new sim card in it.

[mouse]

Phone

Thanks for the replies. Yes it is a camera phone. Service provider, as I said, won't do anything. I have found out from a different source this morning that they will hold on to the phone for however long it takes IF there is something on it they feel is 'evidence' and won't transer info so as to 'preserve the integrity' of the evidence. With this in mind we will ask our solicitor to retrieve it after a reasonable time - she said six weeks is reasonable. Son basically said he didn't use it throughout his time with her except to call a taxi - but knowing the police that is probably 'evidence' enough for them to hang on to it.

Ask service supplier for new sim card with same number, Vodafone have done this for me a number of times, then buy cheap phone for time being, can get one for a tenner.

[LS]

I think Allatsea's more concerned that the son is paying £40 a month for a contract for what may well be an expensive phone.
They don't just want the sim card back to use on a cheap phone, they want the expensive phone back, which he is paying for but not having the use of.

[mouse]

Phone 'continuation of number'

Appreciate that LS, although with many people its having a continuation of their phone so friends can contact them that is most important, the phone will be returned eventually.
My response was also general so that anyone in same situation is aware they can get a replacement sim and continue with 'their' number.
This is particularly important if like me most of business contacts are on the sim and I also receive lots of calls to that number from strangers who need to contact me.

[allatsea]

Thanks everyone for all your advice. Son contacted his service provider who said that while the police are investigating they won't send him a new sim. I have got him a cheap pay and go for now, but he is 'supposed' to be going overseas with work for six weeks so we'll have another go at Orange when he comes home. He is in one of the armed services and at the moment his CO is fully supportive. His friends - and I mean ALL of them, even the girl who'se flat this is supposed to have happened in - have been TOTALLY supportive of him because they all know that he would'nt do what he's been accused of. It's not his character.

Just yesterday he has started to talk about 'if this goes all the way and I go to prison for something I didn't do...' when up to now he has believed that the justice system will protect him as he is the innocent one.

[mouse]

Sim card

Sorry about sim , I have never had a problem with Vodafone who have now replaced mine on three occassions. Police have taken my phone on a regular basis as part of their harassment. The police do not need the phone number, which is all a new sim has, it wont have any info on it, so shouldn't be a problem, I would talk to a supervisor at Orange and explain that you need that number. I have been raided every year for the past 8 years with all my PC & other property seized each time & kept for lengthy periods, I have been arrested 4 times on suspicion & todate have had three brand new front doors courtesy of the police force, at no time has there been any justification other than suspicion given, at no time has any further action been taken & I have complained incessantly to IPCC who just pass complaints back to the same police force to investigate. Its only this last time that I have actually got the IPCC to listen and they have upheld all my complaints....good?.......not really as all that happens is they send it back again to the same police force who then circumvent it a bit further, which is what has happened in my case and I now have a second appeal in with the IPCC, I'm not holding my breath! We have a Police State & they have been given unwarranted powers without control by the last Government.

[Rights Fighter]

Hells Bells Tony! They really are picking on you. I am so sorry to read that.