I was wrongly arrested for a false allegation against me. I was making a witness statement at the time to police as I had escaped a domestic abuse situation, where my ex partner was verbally aggressive and trying to prevent me leaving the hotel room. I was scared so I called the police and ran out. Once I get back to my accommodation, I’m met by the police so I can give a statement of what happened. It took a lot for me to give a full statement as I had to explain the whole year of the domestic abuse. To be falsely accused of assaulting him, which did not even happen, immediately after I made a very big and emotionally exhausting personal statement at around 4am when I should have been sleeping, which I opened up about very personal and difficult things during my relationship was a big shock. I felt so scared and vulnerable in that moment. Even though I was in shock and not happy I was being cautioned and made to go into custody for something I didn’t even do, I still complied and kept polite and civil towards the police officers. Not resisting in any way and no handcuffs were needed.
Once I’m in the waiting area of the police station, I am told I will only be held in a cell for 20 minutes. I ended up being held there for at least 2 hours. Possibly even longer as I lost track of time. Being held in the cell felt like false imprisonment. After realising I was being held longer than I was told, I panicked as I didn’t know what was going on. I was shouting for help and banging on the door, hoping someone would come and reassure me. A female officer came to the door and said “We are only letting suitable people out” I was made to feel like a danger to the outside world.
This caused me even more distress and I ended up screaming and having a mental breakdown. It was the worst moment of my life. Even after being polite and cooperative during the arrest process, I was not expecting this kind of treatment at all. The officer that walked me to the cell was almost trying to aggravate me by saying “Your not going to tackle me are you?” I just quietly said “No”
After speaking with the second duty solicitor on the phone, a male police officer was persistent in asking what was said during the call. It is confidential and before I even had time to say “I don’t have to tell you” he walked away and started speaking to him on the phone. None of this felt right at all. Once I’m finally let out the cell after god knows how long exactly I was held in there. I’m taken to the interview room. It all felt a bit like a joke. The questions I was getting asked had nothing to do with the allegation made against me. For example having to answer to “What was the kebab like?” Which I replied “No comment” also trying to find out how I felt about my ex which is personal and could have been used against me which I also replied with “No comment”
Once I was released and taken back home in the police van. The male officer mocked me for having a mental breakdown, making out I was overreacting and that I watch too many crime shows. He also put pressure on me that something obviously happened during the night of the incident with my ex partner. As I’m about to say something, I’m silenced immediately. The next 2 weeks I was crippled with PTSD after this experience. Especially being told I could be rearrested. I got paranoid thinking the police were going to come back and arrest me again. It has taken me 2 months to be able to accept this has happened and I am now ready to take legal action. I am not the same after this incident with the police. It has left me feeling extremely oppressed, even to the point that I no longer want to live in the UK anymore. I am currently homeless and residing in a temporary accommodation B&B. It was extremely degrading having someone on the reception desk witnessing me being arrested and seeing my angry reaction about it. I feel it affected my reputation here. It was difficult having to explain to the staff in this B&B afterwards what had happened. I became very withdrawn and socially isolated. Once I rang the police to complain about my experience shortly after this traumatic ordeal, they turn up to my accommodation with no warning. The atmosphere becomes tense and I am looked at like an inferior being and told “Why don’t you just find a job?” They should certainly lose their jobs!
Constabulary: Police Scotland
Timespan: Throughout 2025
Did you report it to the police?: Yes
Do you want to revisit this with the police?: Yes
Your ethnicity: White British
Have you experienced suicidality due to this?: Thoughts/feelings
Are you disabled as defined under the Equality Act 2010?: No
