Any policemen on here? stolen bike what would you do?

[summerdays]

Ah I thought you were from a slightly different background, but wearing a similar coloured uniform!

 

[Brandane]

It is a persons right to withdraw their complaint, they aren't saying the bike wasn't stolen but they are saying they do not wish to support a subsequent prosecution. The police can still run a 'victimless' prosecution but without a victim to confirm the item was stolen at court they would be on a hiding to nothing.
This contrasts to DV assault cases where often victimless prosecution will still go ahead as the 'public interest' part of the 'full code' test is still met (as many victims withdraw for reasons of fear) and there will often be other evidence available such as photographs of injuries and police officer testimony as to injuries seen at the time etc.
I have a reasonably good knowledge of the workings of the legal system gained over 20 years

Now that's better than your previous "total rubbish" response.
As I previously posted, my experience is with the Scottish prosecuting system which varies from the rest of the UK.. It is not the job of the Police in Scotland to decide what gets prosecuted and what doesn't. The Police function is simply to gather evidence and report the facts to the Procurator Fiscal, who will then decide whether to proceed with the case or not. I was under the impression that the CPS performed a similar role in England.
"Withdrawing" a complaint in Scotland does not happen at Police level (it used to, but was stopped many years ago for reasons I previously posted). If someone intimates to the Police that they do not wish to proceed with a prosecution, then the Police will communicate that fact to the PF with the reporting officer giving his views on the rights and wrongs of why the victim does not want to proceed. In the case of the OP, that would most likely result in the case not proceeding due to the family connection, age of the child, and his disability.
That is far different from your first suggestion though; that you use the Police to recover the bike, then simply tell them that you don't want to take the matter any further. It's not that simple.

 

[Big Nick]

That is far different from your first suggestion though; that you use the Police to recover the bike, then simply tell them that you don't want to take the matter any further. It's not that simple.

Morally perhaps not but in practice it absolutely is

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Ah I thought you were from a slightly different background, but wearing a similar coloured uniform!

What other uniform is the same?

 

[CopperCyclist]

You can report it and make it clear from the beginning that you have no wish to see your son taken to court for it, theres no problem with that. Just be honest from the start.

That said, there could even be some argument that the whole thing is a 'civil matter' if you don't want the son treated as a thief. They'd be wrong... But it wouldn't surprise me if the concept was raised and to be honest, I'd even understand it...

 

[vernon]

What other uniform is the same?

 

[Drago]

You been stalking me Vern?

 

[vernon]

You been stalking me Vern?

I only stalk good looking coppers which eliminates you from my enquiries.

 

[vernon]

Dealing with the original post the situation sounds grim on many fronts.

At the heart of the situation is a child who is difficult to deal with. The parents are dealing with him as best as they can but without useful external support. I imagine that there is a lot of heart searching taking place about what to do for the best for the child. The parents need to think about their bond with the child and how any actions that they might take will affect the bond. There's lots of details missing such as; is the child taking medication for his ADHD?; is it effective and how strong the family bond is.

Perhaps looking at desired outcomes and working backwards from those will help to identify an appropriate course of action. In my opinion dealing with the child has got to take priority over dealing with the bicycle.

 

[summerdays]

What other uniform is the same?

I thought you were a prison officer

 

[coco69]

Just to update...contacted seller, got the bike back (he didn't know it was stolen) ...my son stole it.
Thanks for all your help, I do really appreciate it........with my son its a massive picture..which for obvious reasons you don't need to know...again thanks for all advice.