police caution shoplifting SCOTLAND **RESOLVED**

[peggysue122]

Hi everyone, apologies if this has been asked before - i did search

 

i wonder if someone could offer some advice please?

 

Totally out of character I shoplifted some items from a shop and was ultimately caught.

 

I know it was incredibly stupid, I've never done anything like that before.

 

The police were called and they questioned me in the security office.

Im in my 30s and I have never been in trouble with the police before.

They cautioned me and escorted me off the premises.

 

[Edit: the police actually took my home as they said they needed to confirm who I was.

They said since the only ID had was a provisional licence and sometimes people move without updating licence.

The picture on the licence is 9 years old so i do look slightly different now - another reason to take me home.

 

I still live with my parent & officers came in to check I was who i said I was.

I lied to my dad saying i was a witness to car accident & police kindly dropped me of so they could confirm details.

 

Police had said they wouldnt mention the theft to my dad. How pathetic that at 30 I'm terrified my dad will find out ]

 

The police said they will send a report to the Procurator Fiscal who will decided how to proceed.

 

Can anyone offer advice on what I can expect to happen.

 

I know what I did was stupid & i feel awful about the who incident so please i don't need judgements just advice please.

 

i am sick with worry about this.

Thanks

Edited January 21, 2019 by dx100uk

[silverfox1961]

Hi and welcome to CAG

 

You know, I'm not sure how the Scottish Legal system works. I would imagine that the Procurator Fiscal is very similar to the CPS in England. It really does depend on the circumstances as to whether they proceed with a criminal action or not. A case of wait and see.

 

Hopefully the Scottish regulars will see this and offer some better advice. I will change the thread title to reflect that you are in Scotland

[peggysue122]

Thanks silvefox, sorry I meant to add that it was Scotland. Thanks for updating it.

 

Any idea of how long i need to wait for outcome.

 

 

The police said he needs to submit his report to Procurator within 2 weeks.

 

 

How long can I expect to wait to hear from Procurator?

 

 

I know if will differ case to case just wondering about estimated times.

[peggysue122]

Hello again sorry to ask another question.

 

I've been trying to find more info about this online

 

from what I've read seems to suggest that in order for me to be officially 'Cautioned' as in it is on my criminal record,

that I must sign a document stating that I agree to the Caution.

 

This didn't happen when I was questioned by police in the stores security office.

 

One officers checked my name on the Police computer and asked questions about why i did it, have i ever done this before.

 

His partner returned and ask a few more questions.

 

Before I was escorted out of building the 2nd officer said he was issuing a caution on the grounds of theft etc

and did I understand & did I have anything to say.

TBH I didn't take all of what he said in.

 

Does this mean that I have not been formally Cautioned yet?

 

And that I must await the Prosecutor Fiscal's decision?

 

Of course I know a caution is likely (Excuse my naivety I just don't fully understand the process)

 

Thanks again

[dx100uk]

issued a caution

 

 

that's the end of it.

 

 

dx

[peggysue122]

Thanks for the reply.

 

Just to make sure I understand you.

 

Do you mean that it IS a caution in the sense that it's on my record and should wait to hear the PF's decision.

 

Or that there will be no further action i.e.

 

I will get letter from Police/PF stating or confirming this.

[dx100uk]

I would say that the PC gave you 'a verbal' caution there and then.

 

you wont here anything more.

 

9/10 unless the sums involved are high

from sort of personal experience, you get a verbal 'ticking off'

[simply 'a note' in his pocket book.]

 

that's the end of it.

 

I would doubt its recorded anywhere other than the on the police national computer system..

 

in case you do something silly again.

 

it does not [well in this persons situation] appear on any searches anywhere.

 

 

dx

[peggysue122]

dx100uk - thanks again for your input and for setting my mind at rest.

Somewhat at least.

Don't think I'll relax until I've receive notice of the outcome.

 

I really hope that it is what you advise.

Then I can put this whole sorry mess behind me.

 

In reply to dx100uk's post.

The sum involved was around £500.

(Some expensive cosmetics and perfume).

 

Its a high value so I think I should be anticipating more than just this 'verbal warning'.

[ericsbrother]

A Police caution will appear on an enhanced disclosure and may have to be notified to a prospective employer

in the same way as a criminal record is for a certain amount of time.

 

However, it is "spent" a lot sooner and if it is properly issued you should have been given a caution notice-piece of paper

saying what the caution was for, date etc.

 

If you were interviewed under caution this is different and means that what you say can be used as evidence if a prosecution is brought against you.

 

If the latter I'm sure that you will receive something through the post saying that your are required to attend another interview etc within a short time.

[peggysue122]

Thanks for the reply.

The police didn't mention the word caution before asking me any questions in the store security office.

That's why I'm a little confused.

They only said it after they finished their questions and were were leaving.

I guess I'll just need to wait and see

[silverfox1961]

As the rules seem to be different in Scotland, I would expect that due to the value of goods taken that this officer will report this to the 'higher ups' who will make the decision however, I am surprised that you were not formally interviewed under caution at a police station. I would expect that to be the next step although I could be totally wrong (which has been known)

[peggysue122]

Thanks for the reply.

Would that mean that they would come to my home an take me to the station or send letter asking me to attend?

I'm terrified with every car that goes by that it the police coming to my home to cart me off to the station.

 

I know I have to answer for what I did and deal with the legal aspect.

However, I would rather family/friends/neighbours find out about it

[dx100uk]

it would be in a letter.

 

I'm a bit concerned upon the level of this [£500]

and that you've slipped in extra details in post one since people have replied too.

 

what were the goods and from where please

and were the good intact and the store? got them back.

 

now you have updated things

I'm not so sure you'll not hear further upon this.

 

dx

[peggysue122]

I was in a panic last night and forgot to add all the info.

 

The store in question was Boots.

The items were some Chanel products and some other expensive skincare.

Yes the goods were recovered in intact.

[dx100uk]

ouch

 

you might be lucky

but I doubt it.

 

how long has this been going on?

 

done it before?

 

dx

[peggysue122]

Only happened yesterday.

 

This is the first time ive ever done anything like this before. Or had any dealing with police.

The officer didnt mention anything about having to go to station.

Just that he's sending report to procurator fiscal & he needs to do that within 2 weeks.

 

So I guess I will be expecting to be asked to go to station very soon

Would it be advisable to call the local police station & ask if i am likely to be called in?

I'm not certain that the officers came from there though.

[dx100uk]

pers I'd sit on your hands

 

you never know. you might be lucky

 

dx

[peggysue122]

Ok, i'll do as i suggest.

This not knowing is making me sick.

I know its what i deserve though.

 

Do you think the police will contact me to confirm the report has been sent to Procurator or will i just need to wait until the Procurator contacts me?

 

Sorry for all the questions, i really do appreciate all the replies.

Have been reading other posts & all posters are fully of great advice.

Kudos for the

[ericsbrother]

You will know when a letter arrives waht is going to happen but if you dont get a letter then you can take it that the decision is no further action.

 

 

Going to a police station and asking wont get you any further, it will be dealt with by a single officer

and unless you know who that is anyone else at the satation wont be able to tell you any sooner tahn the letter will.

[peggysue122]

Thanks for the reply ericsbrother. I thought that might be the case

 

I spoke to a solicitor on the phone today. He said pretty much the same - just wait & see what correspondence i receive either from police or PF

Edited March 3, 2015 by peggysue122
pressed 'post' too soon

[peggysue122]

Sorry for yet another question.

 

When i was detained in the shop's security office the store's security asked for ID & I gave him my provisional licence.

 

The security officer from the shopping centre also took a note of my details from licence.

(I know now after reading on here that i didnt have to give details to anyone other than police but I was in a state)

 

I presume that the store security took my details to pass onto the likes RLP.

But I wondered why the centre's security took details.

Was this to send a letter banning me from the centre?

He did say I was banned.

 

He took my picture and informed me I was banned from the centre,

that they had facial recognition cameras & the police would be called.

 

Would the really have facial recognition cameras?

 

I can't see that they they would have such technology to scan every face that enters the shopping area.

 

I have briefly spoken to solicitor on the phone but i wasn't able to ask him all the questions I had so I hope you guys here don't mind me asking here.

[dx100uk]

I doubt were much they do have face rec.

its a common scare tactic.

 

pers I think you'll not here anything more 'official'

 

dx

[peggysue122]

I wish I could be as optimistic about not hearing anything back.

I'm expecting that I'll be cited to go to court.

 

The solicitor I spoke with didn't say either way but I'll expect the worst until I hear something back.

[peggysue122]

Today I received at letter from RLP as expected.

They state that I owe their client £250.

The envelope has "Retail Loss Prevention" printed on the front, done by the franking machine I guess.

 

I'm not looking forward to trying to intercept the post for the next 8-12months to get the letters before anyone else in the house does.

 

I was reading this thread

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?439604-Shoplifted-from-Superdrug

And the OP emailed RLP instructing them only to contact him/her by email which RLP said they would comply with.

 

I was thinking of doing this myself but wondered if RLP would still comply as Im not a minor unlike the OP in the thread I linked.

 

I was also wondering if I instruct a company to only contact me be a certain method, must they abide by it?

Thanks

[dx100uk]

nope

once Jackie knows she has a weapon over you she'll use it all the more.

 

 

dx