England & Wales

Does any one know if there is a specific law relating to use of red or blue flashing lights on the road when not attached to a vehicle? I'm talking about those flashing LED warning beacons that you can buy (normally in amber, red or blue) and thinking specifically of placing them on the ground (possibly a road if required) when working with the Search & Rescue organisation that I'm a part of to warn oncoming traffic of a possible scene, so only for genuine purposes - not just for the hell of it. I know there is no problem with amber, but how about the blue and red? And yes, I know all about the law with vehicle mounted lights, this is a question specifically about …

Hello, I have an unpleasant domestic situation, but was wondering if it is OTT for me to report to the police. I live in a flat share, have been there 10+ years but one flatmate is making things pretty unbearable. She is aggressive, anti-social and for reasons best known to herself, hates me intensely. I try and keep my head down and prefer to keep myself to myself in my room. Things spiral out of hand into violence over remarkably petty things (cleaning, supplies, etc). Last summer she grew irate over something to do with a bottle of fairy liquid, and ended up hitting me. I hit back to defend myself. She then threatened to push me down the stairs. She is a very large l…

Hi guys, We had an issue at work today and it got me thinking, would disabling a computer network constitute criminal damage? Basically today we lost internet today at work, and whilst trying to figure out why the finger was pointed to a student who still had internet - we've known him to do trivial things in the past. Anyway, hypothetically speaking if he had infected the network with some virus (it is virtually impossible for him to do so) which prevented everyone other than himself from accessing the web, isn't he technically committing criminal damage? (Or would it come under some other computer act?) Therefore would a constable not be able to search him under S1.…

Say a person smashes into a house at the end of a pursuit, after stealing a car. How would the home owner reclaim the costs for the material damage - is it just down to suing the thief? What if the thief cannot pay, is the homeowner then lumped into higher premiums after claiming off of the house insurance? No nice pot of money somewhere for damage such as this? The wife posited this when watching interceptors.

In training yesterday our trainer was just going over S1/23 search quickly. He mentioned when telling people they are detained you don't tell them they are not arrested as they may go at any time. Does that mean they can go at any time during a search since they are only detained and not arrested? In my mind detained means they 'have to' stay there with me until told otherwise. If they leave I can potentially have grounds for arrest for obstruct a constable. Am I right? follow up question, during a s43 terrorism search. Do I give my shoulder no or warrant no?

Could some (preferably a police officer) clarify something for me, I've read through numerous resources and test cases on the internet and they don't seem to make sense. I get that if someone has some sort of bag or container and can prove (balance of probability) that they thought the substance inside was not illegal, they have a defence. So if someone is told to get the aspirins out of their mates car and picks up a plastic tub clearly marked by the manufacturer as aspirin, then they are probably OK. What is unclear (because it doesn't make sense) is that it seems not having any idea what the contents of a container or bag is not a defence. This makes sense if you hav…

Hello, After a really short but sweet replies don't need advice or opinion just law please. I know you have a year on an international licence before you need to get a new one but could someone either direct me to the legislation and section which specifies this year rule or define what a year means (a year in the country, a year after becoming a resident etc)?

I have been studying this recently (how appropriation can be a continuing act and therefore force used "after" a theft can still link and constitute robbery). However I can't lie - I find it confusing. S8 of the Theft Act states that force must be used immediately before or at the time of the theft. Yet in R v Hale the judge basically u-turned the act and made it so that the force needed for robbery can in fact be inflicted long after stealing. Does anyone know the reason why this change was made? Why in R v Hale (a man stole jewellery before using force on the victim a considerable time later) was the defendant not charged with theft and assault? I guess to sum up my c…

Why does this always seem to be the default threat made by police officers when you dare to question anything they've said, however politely. When stopped on suspicion for example, it is perfectly reasonable to ask "on suspicion of what" ... because there has to be an actual suspicion. When a search is performed it is perfectly reasonable to enquire about the type and nature of the object being sought. When no charges are brought, no fuss being made, but a cop feels silly after wasting his time on you - it's perfectly okay to refuse to walk off in the direction he dictates or to remove yourself from the street at his order. Just because HE doesnt feel you have a valid…

My understanding of the law on rear mirrors is that you must have the right mirror and either a left or centre mirror to be road legal. My new car has electronic folding mirrors. Were I to drive around with them folded in, would any offences be committed? They are still there and intact so I don't think that 'construction' offences would apply... (Forum disclaimer noted, this is a question out of interest not a real life problem...)

Can someone please clarify for me whether ALL modified exhausts ie non standard are illegal and should be issued with OSCO or VDRS or if it is just those that are blowing or excessively loud?

If an unknown gas is let off and causes minor injury and causes a person to vomit and similar effects to CS Spray. Is the offence assault? There is no way or evidence to determine what gas was let off.

Hi, I need some serious advice. My ex boyfriend of nearly 18 years that have two little girls with left me for another women nearly 2 years ago, he's also known to be sleeping with numerous women thereafter his new relationship. I've since moved on and met other guys and he's always said he'd destroy any future relationship i get into. He's made these threats to mine and his friends for a long time know and its stopping me move on with life and starting a new life again. My latest loving relationship of 2 months which we are both taken very seriously and introducing the kids to each other soon has basically been stopped and ruined by him making threatening calls and I…

My force is increasingly using mobile fingerprint readers to check peoples identity on the street. I was having a conversation with a colleague and a question came up.... What power do you have to take someone's fingerprint on the street to confirm their identity. I'm thinking along the lines of a person whom you've stopped and searched for example - found nothing, so will be going on their way.. they aren't being obstructive and happy to remain with you. They have provided details but have nothing on them to confirm their ID. If they refuse to have their fingerprint taken do you have a power to request/take it? your thoughts.

I have never seen one of these signs before. What is "implied permissions"?