Advice on my actions.

Nice piece of advice RD :) and I would add one other bit and that is if you haven't already started recording what has happened then do as soon you can and especially before plod arrive and of course do not tell them that you are doing so.

With that in mind then I would then change slightly the part "Never explain to the Police".

If you have the slightest inkling that some of the problem was in any way your fault then I would go along with "say nothing" and let them prove it.

However if you are innocent I would try the explanation route especially if you are recording the conversations. When plod turn up they very rarely remember to caution you (till arrest) even though PACE clearly states they should. Therefore what you say cannot (in most cases) be used as evidence.

And I suggest this as being arrested, apart from the inconvenience and the unpleasant company you will be forced to share with, can have consequences that can affect you later in your life. For one your photo, fingerprints and DNA will be taken and stored indefinitely (Protection of Freedom Act may change that to only a few years) and the state are not that good at looking after sensitive information. Secondly any arrest would show up on an enhanced CRB and you may never know the real reason you failed to secure that next job or if you did get to interview have to explain it away every time.
 
Rocketdodger - what an incredible post! You have in a few paragraphs encapsulated the way the system works and how people can find themselves on the wrong side of things and there is some pertinent advice in there for anyone finding themselves on the wrong side. I am going to print off your article for my own use - having 'suffered' myself.

A doorman friend of mine went to the aid of a policeman who was getting a good kicking and saved him. The policeman returned a couple of hours later to arrest him for an alleged assault on the drunk who was beating the copper up. He was released a couple of hours later but.............

Speaking from experience, having been found 'no case to answer' I have had my DNA removed and my fingerprints shortly will be removed from the database. My CRB says, 'DNA destroyed' but this tells employers that you have been arrested with all implications. From having a couple of paragraphs on a clean CRB I now have about three sheets to my CRB which say everything but says nothing as there was nothing there. Is this a clean CRB? I have employed a solicitor just to try and get a clean CRB and its proving difficult. I think that there is now a 3-tier CRB. If I do manage to clean up my CRB the details will still lie on file but be in some sort of reserved file. This has only recently changed. It is costing me thousands.

From bitter experience - don't get involved with 'them' if you can help it.
 
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