4 ms·

The police in the past actually wanted me to come in and talk to them about an issue someone had reported. I came in and they surprised me with the line "My par

by Fogest 7y ago

The police in the past actually wanted me to come in and talk to them about an issue someone had reported. I came in and they surprised me with the line "My partner is just setting up the camera in the other room if that's okay". I was quite surprised and shocked that they wanted to record what they made sound like a friendly chat. I of course refused to give any kind of statement under video and instead just spoke privately with an officer and gave minimal details. However I fear that others less inclined about their rights or why they wanted to record would be screwing themselves. Essentially I had a false report made against me and there was no evidence. If I said anything incriminating in a video statement by accident I would have just made evidence for them. No one advised me of this. It felt like I should have brought a lawyer with me. Edit: This was in an Ontario based police department.

sandworm101 7y ago
>> I of course refused to give any kind of statement under video Realize too that a great many officers now don body cameras. If you aren't willing to say it on video, do not say it. No matter what they tell you, police officers are not capable of private conversations. Every conversation with a cop is a conversation between a person and a government. It might be recorded. The cop can take notes. They cop can get back to their car and relate the conversation to a camera, creating very powerful evidence. There is no concept of privacy when talking to police.
- Fogest 7y ago
  Yes you're quite correct. I was in this case talking to more of a detective style person, not a regular in uniform police officer. They were taking notes while I was talking which was okay. However if anything went to court, or for it to go to court I would have had to had a video statement. Me being in the police officers messy office just having a conversation about an incident is much different from giving them a video statement. I am referring to a case where the only evidence against myself would be what I say. As such there is not much to go on if it's just some notes the officer took while informally talking with me in their office. They have no one else with them to back up what was said or anything to prove what I said is accurate/true. Since nothing was recorded not much could be done.
  - sandworm101 7y ago
    >> They were taking notes while I was talking which was okay. However if anything went to court, or for it to go to court I would have had to had a video statement. >> Since nothing was recorded not much could be done. That's where you are incorrect. The cop was taking notes. The cop can take the stand to testify as to what you said. During that testimony he may refer to his notes. Hearsay rules are complicated but it is safe to say that anything said to a cop can, one way or another, be used in court.
    - Fogest 7y ago
      I do not believe that would be enough to convict someone in a criminal case though. Sure maybe for a traffic ticket. But an informal discussion one-on-one with a police officer, with no recording is pretty iffy evidence to stand on as being the only piece of evidence.

by Fogest 7y ago

sandworm101 7y ago

>> I of course refused to give any kind of statement under video Realize too that a great many officers now don body cameras. If you aren't willing to say it on video, do not say it. No matter what they tell you, police officers are not capable of private conversations. Every conversation with a cop is a conversation between a person and a government. It might be recorded. The cop can take notes. They cop can get back to their car and relate the conversation to a camera, creating very powerful evidence. There is no concept of privacy when talking to police.

Fogest 7y ago
Yes you're quite correct. I was in this case talking to more of a detective style person, not a regular in uniform police officer. They were taking notes while I was talking which was okay. However if anything went to court, or for it to go to court I would have had to had a video statement. Me being in the police officers messy office just having a conversation about an incident is much different from giving them a video statement. I am referring to a case where the only evidence against myself would be what I say. As such there is not much to go on if it's just some notes the officer took while informally talking with me in their office. They have no one else with them to back up what was said or anything to prove what I said is accurate/true. Since nothing was recorded not much could be done.
- sandworm101 7y ago
  >> They were taking notes while I was talking which was okay. However if anything went to court, or for it to go to court I would have had to had a video statement. >> Since nothing was recorded not much could be done. That's where you are incorrect. The cop was taking notes. The cop can take the stand to testify as to what you said. During that testimony he may refer to his notes. Hearsay rules are complicated but it is safe to say that anything said to a cop can, one way or another, be used in court.
  - Fogest 7y ago
    I do not believe that would be enough to convict someone in a criminal case though. Sure maybe for a traffic ticket. But an informal discussion one-on-one with a police officer, with no recording is pretty iffy evidence to stand on as being the only piece of evidence.