Not guilty.
Back in the 60’s, I worked in central London. Not far from all the law courts, and right next to Bow Street Police Station. On the flip side, I was surrounded by all the major theatres and immediately across the road was the back entrance of The Drury Lane Theatre. It was a good place to work, and there was always something interesting going on, and someone famous to see.
One morning, our usual office routine was disturbed when the door opened and two policemen came in. Strange how uniformed police and firemen always look larger than life when they enter a room. After exchanging a few words with the manager, they came over to me, and a couple of other girls and asked if we would assist them in an identity parade. We said we would, and they lead us out of our building and into Bow Street Police Station.
We were getting nervous as we stood in the lift that was taking us up to the room. This was the first time any of us had been in a police station, let alone Bow Street! We were giggling a little too much, the kind of giggling that nerves cause. We were told that we must not giggle when in the line up. As if!
We, along with several other girls, were led into a room and told to stand in line, which we did. He told us that someone would walk up and down the line and then touch the person that they recognized, on the shoulder. I was wondering when they would bring the suspect in, when the door opened and a policeman and young girl came into the room.
She didn’t look much like a criminal, I thought, which shows you how naive we were in those days. She walked slowly up the line, and I realized that this wasn’t the suspect, but the witness. Where was the suspect then? Having reached the end of the line, she turned and came back. Her hand came out as she came toward me and my stomach lurched. I didn’t feel her hand on my shoulder…..it wasn’t on my shoulder, but the shoulder next to mine. What relief!
Later I was told that the suspects get to choose where in the line they want to stand, and she had made sure she stood next to me because I looked like her. This is meant to confuse the witness.
It broke the monotony of a typical working day.
Stumble it!
Subscribe by Email
Swubird | 18 June 2008 at 16:24
Babs:
Wow! No that is a cool story. I didn’t realize that English legal procedure was like that. Very interesting. For the suspect to stand right next to you must have been scary. I wonder what would have happened if the witness would have chosen you as the suspect? Oh no! Guilty!!!
Good story.
Happy trails.
Babs (Beetle) | 18 June 2008 at 17:17
I expect it’s all changed now. This was 40 years ago. It was an exiting experience.
Liudmila | 18 June 2008 at 19:29
Imagin, what had you feel in that moment. Completely external person that is to be said as a criminal. Bad feeling. Did you have all your life passing in that moment for your eyes?
JD at I Do Things | 18 June 2008 at 22:21
VERY interesting! Here in the US (at least on CSI), the witness is kept behind a one-way mirror so the criminal can’t see him or her.
Being falsely accused of a crime is one of my weird, irrational fears. I would’ve been terrified!
JD at I Do Things
Babs (Beetle) | 18 June 2008 at 22:31
Liudmila & JD:
Actually we did check beforehand, that if we were chosen, we would still be able to go free ;O)
weechuff | 18 June 2008 at 23:36
I would have been really nervous, wondering how I could prove my innocence if I had been tapped on the shoulder!
Drowsey Monkey | 19 June 2008 at 2:44
geez! those sneaky criminals
JB's Big World | 19 June 2008 at 3:37
That is a neat story. I don’t think many people have ever been in a line-up before!
–JB
P.S. I finally did the quirky meme…
Ana | 19 June 2008 at 14:05
Wow, what a story. And also it’s kind of weird that the suspect was standing next to you and you didn’t know. Strange they didn’t tell you. What she was accused of?
Babs (Beetle) | 19 June 2008 at 15:25
Weechuff, Drowsey, J.B & Ana:
She certainly was sneaky. They assured us that if we were picked we wouldn’t be under arrest.
She was actually accused of fraud, so she was not dangerous ;O)
Daisy | 19 June 2008 at 16:04
That sounds exciting AND scairty!
Kathy | 20 June 2008 at 0:14
I’m with JD. I have a weird fear that I’d be named a suspect for something, simply because I was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Cool story!
(Thank you for your help with my theme and stuff earlier. You’re the best!)
Babs (Beetle) | 20 June 2008 at 0:26
Kathy: You’re welcome :O)
granny grimble | 20 June 2008 at 19:18
I didn’t know that you did this Babs! Wow how groovy is that! Did you know that they sometimes advertise in the press for people to take part in line ups? I’ve seen the adverts so it’s true. They actually pay you! I bet yours wasn’t paid though!
Babs (Beetle) | 20 June 2008 at 20:46
granny grimble: No it wasn’t paid, but it was fun anyway. I think I would need paying now days though!