Family and Friends Forum

Home visits - police powers

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SoTired

Member since
March 2021

387 posts

Posted Sat October 15, 2022 10:53pmReport post

Hi,

I haven't posted for a long time as we have just been cracking on, but I do lurk periodically. For those of you remember me, hi. For those of you who don't hi!

I have a question about home monitoring visits, purely because this last one has re-traumatised me. I'm back to not sleeping, awake and paranoid in the middle of the night, feel completely like the safe place I have strived to recreate has gone again.

I had not known that if they want you they can look around your home and insist the visit takes place in a bedroom. As a result, it's brought back the knock for me when it happened, out of the blue because my son couldn't find the door keys and took 3 minutes to answer the door. I found out at work that it had happened and fell apart quite spectacularly, out of the blue.

What powers do they have when doing home visits for the purposes of risk management? I have searched the web to try and find any policies on this but can't find anything.



Hope you're all well!

xxx

SoTired

Member since
March 2021

387 posts

Posted Sat October 15, 2022 11:07pmReport post

It's my son. He was 16 when he committed the offence but has now turned 18. I was at work. Basically the keys were on the kitchen bench but my son was in bed when I left so I locked the door. He couldn't find them.

He's still under youth justice.

His SHPO is internet only but just replied to a past post from JayJay too

This was the outcome of that.

I've just re-referred us to amend the family safety plan with Children’s services too. Only, there is no family safety plan their end....

Edited Sat October 15, 2022 11:08pm

SoTired

Member since
March 2021

387 posts

Posted Sun October 16, 2022 9:20pmReport post

Hi Lee, thanks for your replies.

I have done a bit more web digging today and have actually found out more information. I realise we are not allowed to post links so

For home visits to search it is: Ministry of Justice Home Visits Protocol. In this it states that if the officer has a reasonable suspicion and has consent from the offender to look around the home they can, and don't need a warrant. That as part of assessing risk it could be felt a need to look around the home and if this reasonable request was not complied with this could lead to a warrant, as the person is refusing to comply with a reasonable request in order to allow the police officer to assess risk which is therefore suspicious. Rock and a hard place. However, it also states that it is reasonable to refuse access to certain rooms and that has to be accepted. I think my bedroom should be off limits. It's too intrusive and I am unsure of the relevance for a need for it to assess my son's risk.

For 18 year olds transferring to probation to search it is: Ministry of Justice Probation Service Managemebt of Young Adults. Smile, I hope you read this as it also brings in neurodivergent issues.
There are links but when you click on them it takes you to a log in page.

Slowly getting my head around things this weekend, although I don't understand when asked about home visits to the police officer he couldn't have just signposted me to these pages. I'm going to print them off so I have them to hand.



As per the other safeguarding measures, haven't found anything yet that states about additional requirements.

Hope you have all had a good Sunday!
xx