The police social engineer them that if they talk then they'll probably be let go, or all of it will be "sorted out". Foolish criminals actually think they can

The police social engineer them that if they talk then they'll probably be let go, or all of it will be "sorted out". Foolish criminals actually think they can snow the police too with transparent lies. The police are hoping you lie, because now they can easily trip you up later in court. Often they will just nod their heads and accept your complete BS and write it all down to give to the prosecutor. They will listen to an hour's worth of fabrications and pretend to be fooled by it so you talk some more, then arrest you because now you have provided them all they need. In the UK police do this all the time with suspected drug importers. They show up and claim to whoever answers the door that if they tell them where the drugs are, this will all be sorted out with a fine or something and they will be on their way. The fool at the door agrees and now their entire place is ripped apart by a search and they are arrested and charged. There is a fine in UK/Ireland for cannabis drug posession, not for importing though.