Found Deceased UK - Lindsay Birbeck, 47, Accrington, 12 Aug 2019 *Arrest* #2

[CoverMeCagney]

It's so odd how different our two countries can be. Here in the US, LE shouts it to the rooftops when they make an arrest (or two or three). Then the press descends and we know the whole life story of said people within a day or two.

In the UK, it seems, we just get....crickets.

Remember this one is especially quiet because the lad arrested is a minor. We often get (or find!) the life story when the person arrested is named. Although, things changed in the UK Media after the Joanna Yeates case. I won't name the poor chap involved but here's his story which was made into a TV drama - I can't believe how different he looks with a haircut!

Vilified for a murder he didn't commit - now he's a privacy crusader

 

[CharlestonGal]

I think @CharlestonGal meant "cricket" or the noble art of "how to bowl a maiden over"

@CharlestonGal is now thoroughly confused.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

@CharlestonGal is now thoroughly confused.

I hadnt heard that before. I'm going to adopt it over here

 

[CharlestonGal]

crickets
Noun

1. plural form of cricket
2. (US slang, humorous or derisive) Absolute silence; no communication. Derived from the cinematic metaphor of chirping crickets at night, signaling (otherwise) complete quiet. May be used alone or in metaphorically descriptive phrases.
   Since then, I've received no response. Not a word. Just... crickets.
   We asked for an explanation, but all we heard was the sound of crickets.
   
   Crickets dictionary definition | crickets defined

 

[CharlestonGal]

Oh boy, are we off topic! lol

So I guess we can't take it for absolute granted that the lad was the only one arrested. That opens up a whole slew of possibilities outside the notion that the boy acted completely alone. IMO

 

[JosieJo]

Is it not very rare though for an arrest to not be made public...as in possible but very unlikely?

 

[Whitehall 1212]

Oh boy, are we off topic! lol

So I guess we can't take it for absolute granted that the lad was the only one arrested. That opens up a whole slew of possibilities outside the notion that the boy acted completely alone. IMO

He appears to be the only one who has been charged.

It is possible that others have either been interviewed voluntarily under caution or arrested, interviewed and either bailed from police custody or 'released under investigation'.

As you alluded to earlier @CharlestonGal and which I completely misunderstood....UK LE practice the art of 'crickets'

 

[CharlestonGal]

Is it not very rare though for an arrest to not be made public...as in possible but very unlikely?

I don't know. Maybe it could be other juveniles...? The UK does seem to be quite big on privacy as compared to the US. I suppose it's possible UK police don't find it necessary to inform the press of additional arrests, if there are any. IMO

 

[nicjhis]

I agree it’s possible, but boy that is some trust in a boy of his age..

If that is the case and he claims he only moved the body let’s hope he comes to his senses and realises this other person doesn’t give 2 hoots about him or him possibly spending the rest of his life behind bars.

Could be but wouldn’t it be better to ask someone with a vehicle and get the body far away rather than what we assume the boy did and walking through an area very close to where the police were present? I think he might have told a relative but it’s my belief he was responsible for this as I’m sure we would have known of further arrests.

 

[Whitehall 1212]

Is it not very rare though for an arrest to not be made public...as in possible but very unlikely?

No, on the contrary. UK LE may confirm an arrest has been made in response to a media reporting, when it supports their investigative aims or when it reassures communities, locally, regionally or nationally.

The great majority of arrests made by UK LE are not within the public domain.

 

[JosieJo]

I don't know. Maybe it could be other juveniles...? The UK does seem to be quite big on privacy as compared to the US. I suppose it's possible UK police don't find it necessary to inform the press of additional arrests, if there are any. IMO

They normally do state if multiple arrests occur even at different times they just dont name

 

[JosieJo]

No, on the contrary. UK LE may confirm an arrest has been made in response to a media article, when it supports their investigative aims or when it reassures communities, both local and further afield.

The great majority of arrests made by UK LE are not within the public domain.

I've always found though that with highly publicised murder cases I have followed the various arrests have been mentioned possibly because they are so public and the community has been so invested

 

[GoldenFlower]

Would we be informed if they were charged?

 

[JosieJo]

Would we be informed if they were charged?

I would have thought so ...imo of course they could be still investigating other people ...or maybe with time a 16 yr old may crack and tell ...but in this case it seems the area involved was well covered by CCTV so the police would know if any family or associates visited the area quite quickly

 

[GoldenFlower]

I would have thought so ...imo of course they could be still investigating other people ...or maybe with time a 16 yr old may crack and tell ...but in this case it seems the area involved was well covered by CCTV so the police would know if any family or associates visited the area quite quickly

Yes...after I posted I realised it was a silly question.

I’m sure the local press have reporters at the courts that would pick up on it too

 

[Whitehall 1212]

I've always found though that with highly publicised murder cases I have followed the various arrests have been mentioned

Yes, I wouldn't disagree and this would invariably be to reassure communities.

My response was more generalised, for all police arrests and the reasons for exceptions.

I don't know if others are being investigated for murder or other associated offences.

There is no requirement for UK LE to make announcements of their ongoing enquiries or when arrests are made. They tend to be very discreet, even within the LE organisation. Everything is on a 'need to know basis'.

 

[CharlestonGal]

Yes, I wouldn't disagree and this would invariably be to reassure communities.

My response was more generalised, for all police arrests and the reasons for exceptions.

I don't know if others are being investigated for murder or other associated offences.

There is no requirement for UK LE to make announcements of their ongoing enquiries or when arrests are made. They tend to be very discreet, even within the LE organisation. Everything is on a 'need to know basis'.

You guys are nicer to your suspected criminals than we are. That's for sure.

 

[Whitehall 1212]

You guys are nicer to your suspected criminals than we are. That's for sure.

It all boils down to following the legalities and procedural requirements pertaining to UK LE powers and investigation.

Defence cases are often based on finding procedural errors made by LE and not on challenging the evidence directly. Procedural errors or transgressions, can render evidence inadmissible or result in a case being dismissed.

 

[CharlestonGal]

It all boils down to following the legalities and procedural requirements pertaining to UK LE powers and investigation.

Defence cases are often based on finding procedural errors made by LE and not on challenging the evidence directly. Procedural errors or transgressions, can render evidence inadmissible or result in a case being dismissed.

Yes, that is all true over here as well, as far as LE goes. It's the press that digs up and reports everything from public record, neighbors, co-workers, friends, family and the pied piper. Which is obviously not a good thing if one is innocent. Freedom of the press is a double-edged sword, I suppose.

 

[Vaccine]

The legal presumption in the UK is that reporting the names of defendants under the age of 18 is restricted. In more serious cases that are tried in Magistrate or Crown Courts that restriction may be lifted but the police tend to be pretty cautious at the outset.