I have browsed around for quite a while and cannot find where this should be posted, but as I have several disabilities, maybe a moderator could move it to the correct sub-forum if this is the wrong place?

The internet is full of stories of burglars, con men and thieves posing as police in order to gain unlawful access to a property.

But do any of the experts here have any information on private companies subcontracted by local Council authorities doing the same?

IE, sound like they are banging down the door of a vulnerable (or fully fit) person's home and saying they are Metropolitan Police (in plain clothes, of course) responding to a 999 report of a burglary, two men were seen entering "the property".

What? You mean my home? Burglars? Entering through the undamaged and locked door you were just trying to kick down? What are they, ghosts?

So, now it's can they come in and look around and check I am not being held hostage!

And do I have any ID to prove who I am?

And do I live alone?

But no warrant cards or ID from them, of course.

No! You bloody well can't!

Now, I'd have thought uniformed police would attend a burglary report. And I don't think this behaviour would be written down in the Policies and Procedures or SOPs of any Local Authority.

But a private firm sub-contracted by the Council, say to conduct random tenancy fraud investigations, or to determine if I live alone for my 25% Council Tax discount, very well might use such underhand tactics.

I had returned the council tax discount form the previous week. I have had no letters from the Council's housing management team about my tenancy and proposed relocation for almost a year and no one wrote or 'phoned to make an appointment. I have no debts and I pay monthly in advance by standing order.

Has anyone ever heard of this sort of thing recently?

Many Thanks

Police officers, plain clothes or not, will always provide ID when asked. If they do not, dial 999 immediately.

Impersonating a police officer is a criminal offence.

Yes, I understand that, but has anyone heard of this sort of thing being done by private companies sub-contracted by local authorities, rather than just criminals, burglars, fraudsters etc?

Many Thanks

I have heard of certain bailiff companies dressing in very similar clothing, and they are sailing pretty darned close to the wind in doing so. But local authorities (and subcontractors) could find themselves in a lot of trouble if they started impersonating a police officer.

There are some outfits (TVL springs to mind) that will go banging on doors as if they have the right to do so. A few well chosen words will often see them departing pretty sharpish.

Yes, they could get into a lot of trouble if I had a secret spy cam over the door to video and audio record it.

But so would anyone who knowingly breaks the law and gets caught, and so would anyone who inadvertently breaks the law not realising that what they are doing is illegal, unlawful or criminal.

That does not mean that cowboy outfits won't try it on, thinking that an elderly or mentally ill person would be too confused and panic-stricken to know what's going on.

Many Thanks

PS What are the few, well-chosen words?

YPS What are the few, well-chosen words?

Tace atque abi

Tace atque abi

 

 

got in first . what does that mean

Latin, according to Google translate it's

Hold thy peace and go thy way

I can think of a few more modern versions.