SAS Urban Survival Handbook (89 page)

WARNING

If you do not comply with the police when arrested, they are entitled to use reasonable force! You can be fined or imprisoned for ‘resisting arrest’ or ‘obstructing a police officer’—even if you are found innocent of the offence for which you were arrested.

Statements/confessions

DON’T make or sign statements if you are doing so to bring an end to questioning. There are cases on record of people confessing to crimes they did not commit—sometimes through fear or pressure. This will not help anyone—least of all YOU.

If you do make a statement, confine it to the absolute truth. DON’T sign it until you have read it through and made any changes/corrections. There may be typing errors which could seriously alter the meaning of the statement.

Fingerprinting

In most countries, a record is kept of convictions and the fingerprints of people who have been convicted. Only offences punishable by imprisonment are usually recorded in this way. The police can only take your fingerprints if:

• ◑ You give your consent, in writing, at a police station.
  
• ◑ An officer of at least the rank of superintendent authorizes the procedure in writing. Your consent is not required if there are reasonable grounds for fingerprinting.
  
• ◑ The reasons for fingerprinting must be explained to you.
  
• ◑ If you are charged with an offence, fingerprinting may be done without your consent.
  
• ◑ Reasonable force may be used to take fingerprints.
  

REMEMBER

In some countries, including Britain, you may witness the destruction of fingerprints if you are cleared of an offence—as soon as is practicable.

Identity parades

Codes of practice usually require an identity parade where the officer in charge needs to confirm witnesses’ reports—or if the suspect demands an identity parade. You may refuse to take part in an identity parade, although (if suspected) this may prolong questioning and detention. You may stand anywhere in the parade line-up.

Identity parades should be arranged by an officer who is not involved in the investigation. There should be at least eight people of the same apparent age, height and general appearance. If there are two suspects, the line-up should involve at least twelve people.

MISTAKEN IDENTITY

If ever you are asked to help out by attending an identity parade (not as a suspect) there is NO possibility of your being implicated or arrested for the offence. The whole idea of the parade is to find out if witnesses can recognize suspects who have been detained. If YOU are selected by a witness, it proves only that the witness does not recognize the suspect.

Bail

If a formal charge is made against you, you must be given a written copy of it by the arresting police station. At this point you will either be granted bail and released, or taken into custody by the police until the date of the court appearance. Even if you have been refused bail by the police, you still have the right to ask the magistrates’ court to overrule the decision.

Finding a solicitor

In theory you do not have to have a solicitor—you can represent yourself. However, when faced with judge and jury and the evidence against you, you may find yourself ill-equipped to make your own case. You must seek professional advice if you don’t want a prolonged stay at Her Majesty’s pleasure.

Finding a criminal lawyer is no more difficult than locating a solicitor to handle a house purchase. Recommendation from a friend or bank manager is always a good starting point, otherwise a consumer advice centre should be able to help. Legal aid is available for anyone on a low income.

BEING A WITNESS

Whatever information you give MUST be as accurate as possible. Look at the following lists and see the choices for describing a person. Try to form a ‘word picture’ of someone known to you and a friend. Try describing them and see if the friend knows who you mean.

DESCRIBING A PERSON

SEX: Male or female

AGE (or apparent age): This can often be difficult to assess and witnesses of different ages may ‘see’ the suspect quite differently

HEIGHT AND BUILD: Tall, short, medium height, heavy, light, stocky, skinny, athletic, chubby, fat

COMPLEXION: Skin colour, spots, scars, birthmarks, moles, warts, moustache, beard, sideburns, fresh-faced, dirty

HAIR: Colour, short or long, curly or straight, clean or greasy, receding hairline, balding, bald

EYES: Colour, glasses, cross-eyed, one-eyed

EYEBROWS: Heavy/light, missing, meet in the middle

SHAPE OF FACE: Round, square, long, thin, fat, wide, triangular

CLOTHES: Colours, garments, lettering, patches, missing buttons, shoes, boots, gloves, neat, tidy, scruffy, shoes, trainers, boots, workwear, uniform JEWELLERY OR TATTOOS: May have names or initials showing, rings, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, badges

VOICE: Loud, soft, deep, high, accent, impediment (speech defect), breathless, angry, calm, use of words repeated, unusual use of words, intelligent, unintelligent

If you can give some of the above details, you may be able to elaborate as you form a mental picture of the person. Did he/she walk with a limp? Was he/she carrying anything? If the person ran off, in which direction?

Vehicle description

You may see a suspicious vehicle, or a ‘getaway’ car used by a thief or an attacker. Try to remember:

• ◑ Type of car/van/lorry/motorcycle/bicycle
  
• ◑ Colour—one or more, writing, stripes, stickers
  
• ◑ Licence plate number
  
• ◑ Roof rack, towbar, foglamps, aerial
  
• ◑ Condition of car—damaged, scratches, dents
  
• ◑ Details about occupants (number/appearance)
  
• ◑ Direction of travel
  

UNDER ATTACK

The majority of crimes are committed against property, usually homes and cars, but the number of reported physical attacks is on the increase. Contrary to reports you may read in the newspapers, street crime in cities is not
a new phenomenon—but it has become more common in recent years to report crimes and for statistics to be recorded and assessed. Statistics help us identify high-risk groups, times of day and places where most crimes take place—and precautions people should take to reduce the risk of attack.

Most attacks on the streets are (statistically) committed by young men—usually on their own. The most dangerous time is from mid-evening to early morning—especially in the summer. A lot of violent crimes are related to alcohol consumption, and happen when public houses and nightclubs are closing.

Violence

It’s impossible to explain or understand fully why acts of violence are ‘so common. Robbery as a motive is on the increase—cities combine the very rich with the very poor. Unemployment and poor housing accentuate the problems. Sexual crimes, including rape, have always taken place—and often the aggressors are known to the victim already. Members of minority groups may be victims of otherwise ‘motiveless’ violence—simply because they ARE members of minority groups. It’s always possible that there is no real motive. The attacker may be genuinely mentally ill.

Most street crime injuries involve bruising, broken noses, black eyes, grazes and shock. With aftercare and counselling, many victims ‘recover’. But the alarming increase of crimes involving knives and firearms may mean an increase in the number of victims who die.

Most attacks take place in a few moments. The police can do little except arrange for the care of the victims and take statements from witnesses. It is up to YOU to make sure that you are not helpless if attacked. It is up to YOU to be aware of your surroundings and to protect yourself. You must look at self-defence as a real necessity and work out how YOU can minimize the risks of attack.

Awareness

Self-defence begins with keeping your eyes open and your mind alert to dangers. Always be aware of your situation and how it might put you at risk. Look ahead when in the street and be aware of dark corners and alleys, of people loitering, of groups of people heading in your direction. Cross the road if necessary to avoid potential risk. Use your ears too—can you hear footsteps or voices? While focusing on one potential attacker, you might not be aware that another is behind you. Try to judge situations realistically.

You mustn’t start assuming that anyone who approaches you wants to hurt you—but you shouldn’t assume they don’t. A person slumped against a wall might be ill or drunk, or could be pretending. A violent argument between a man and woman, followed by cries of help from the woman, would probably make you want to help—but she might be an accomplice. This puts all of us in a serious dilemma. Most people choose not to get involved at all.

There are obvious high-risk groups for violent crime. Statistics show a particularly high incidence of attacks on women, the elderly and children—but everyone is at risk, particularly when alone.

Select from this section whatever suits your needs. Extra advice for women, the elderly and children is given later.

REMEMBER

The knowledge that attacks DO happen is the first step in self-defence.

The awareness of a potentially-hazardous situation – expecting the unexpected – takes us further. But the final step is to equip ourselves mentally and physically to deal with attack or confrontation – minimizing the physical and emotional damage it may cause.

ATTACK AT HOME

It’s important to understand that not ALL acts of violence occur on the streets. Many occur in the place you feel safest – the home. You MUST be
aware of the kinds of risk involved and take sensible precautions. Attacks may also take place at work or in hotel rooms – places where you are not usually in total control of security procedures.

At home, it’s up to YOU to protect your house and its contents (see SECURITY) and – much more important – the physical safety of you and your family.

At the door

NEVER let a stranger into your home. If you arrange for someone, such as a plumber, to call (and it is obviously necessary to admit them) arrange for another member of the family or a friend to be with you.

• ◑ Fit a door ‘viewer’ or peephole so you can see the caller.
  
• ◑ An outside light is essential to see a caller at night.
  
• ◑ Fit a door chain or limiter so that the door may be opened fractionally, allowing you a better look at the caller, whatever the caller is carrying and any accomplices who may be out of sight of the door viewer.
  
• ◑ Door chains and limiters, and doors for that matter, MUST be strong enough to resist being shouldered or kicked.
  

  

  Fitting locks, spyholes and door chains/limiters is fairly easy—but not for everyone. Perhaps you could help an elderly neighbour—or anyone especially at risk. Tell neighbours they can always call you if they are bothered about callers and don’t want to be alone with them.
  

• ◑ Before opening the door at all, if you are on your own, ask the caller what they want. An ‘entryphone’ is useful—you might choose not to open the door at all.
  
• ◑ Never judge by appearance. Even a child or someone in uniform may be used as a ploy to gain entry to your home.
  
• ◑ Don’t worry about keeping an unknown caller waiting. A door chain or limiter enables you to check the credentials of the caller, by telephone to his/her headquarters.
  
• ◑ ALL official visitors carry identification.