Retract a Police Statement

[Neal]

Someone I know had non-direct problems with some people on their street and completed a statement to the Police who informed them that it was just for them to get an ASBO and have these persons removed from their property.

This has since happened and the person is much better, but now they are being asked to attend court which could cause them more problems than good.

This person has asked to have their statement retracted, but have been told basically that they can't. Is that right? They fear that by going to court and being seen, they will suffer problems later on. I have told them that they can retract their statement if they need to, but i'm of the opinion that they should attend court and show those people that they can't get away with what they did.

[jedimaster]

i totally agree with you we are going through the same thing with someone on our street

i made a statement to the asb unit last week
and i will be more than happy to stand up in court
if you don't face up to them then they will just carry on getting away with it

[Ianw]

I think the non retraction rule was implimented to cut domestic violence down Neal, and stop battered wives withdrawing the complaint, but like all new guidelines with anything to do wth the law it goes accros the board. Retracting the statement in these cases usually makes the offender worse, it is like threatening to punish a child and not doing it, the child will only attempt to take more 'liberties'.