Not so random research question

[m31andy]

Oh help me, oh wonderful friendslist, I'm in a bit of a bind.

If a person were to be badly injured in the commission of a crime (say, for instance, joyriding in a stolen car...), would there be a police presence when the next of kin presents him/herself at the hospital? Obviously the injured party would be arrested if/when (s)he is in a fit state to be so. But in the meantime? How much of the nature of the crime would be related to the next of kin, if the joyrider was over the age of majority? Would this differ if the next of kin is not a blood relation?

Have things changed in the last twenty years? The incident I wish to write about is set in London in the early 1980s.

Thoughts? Facts? Ideas? Flames?

MTIA!

And yes, to those of you who think you know what I'm talking about. It's that fic.

Comments

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I have no idea what you're talking about, but... I would have thought there'd be a police presence if a criminal is in an unsecure hospital bed, to prevent them absconding? (And maybe to protect them a bit too...)

How much of the nature of the crime would be related to the next of kin, if the joyrider was over the age of majority?
What's the next of kin got to do with it, if they've not committed any crime?

Would this differ if the next of kin is not a blood relation?
If they've not committed a crime either, then...? Am I missing something about this story and should just go away? *g*

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

This is very interesting, but all I can add is speculation.

Actually, another question first - who does notify the next of kin when someone is taken to hospital after a car crash? Is it the police or the ambulance service or the hospital after the person has been admitted?

If the person was very badly injured, I imagine there wouldn't be a continuous police presence until they were conscious and fit to be questioned/arrested/charged. Would tie up manpower!

How much would the police tell the next-of-kin about the patient being suspected of an offence? Why not tell them? For instance, the next-of-kin usually (although seemingly not in your case) can give information about whether the owner of the car was a friend or relation and was being driven with consent, what the patient was doing driving at that place at that time, etc. In other words, the next of kin is a source of information that could help to decide on whether any/what offence has ben committed.

[peppapig.livejournal.com]

totally unrelated

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/819245-crochet-geometry-book-wins-oddest-title-prize

and are you free on Thursday eve? WS