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*

[m31andy.livejournal.com]

*grin* Ah, you'll find out...

What's the next of kin got to do with it, if they've not committed any crime?

Well, surely something would have to be said - I mean "X has been in a car crash", "who's car was he driving", "well, that's why there's a policeman outside the door"... conversation has to happen, surely?

I take your point that beyond that, there's nothing to say. There wouldn't be any questioning of the next of kin, as they weren't involved at all.

Scenario is that X has stolen a car and crashed it, sustaining injuries. Y, the (ex-)friend is notified as next of kin. I'm trying to work out what conversations there will be at the hospital (and later on)...

Thanks for your response!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, you mean "related to" as in told to! I read it as in be-connected-with... *headdesk* *g* Ooh, in that case, no idea. But it's a good question - maybe there's lawyers out there who're reading and can tell us... *g* I'll just be over there, sitting down quietly...

Oh google tells me that "# Your family or next of kin to be informed of your location" which imply that they don't have the right to be informed of anything else... Hmmn - and this happened in 2008 - but again it's sort of negative evidence... Probably not much help... I'm going over there now... *g*

[m31andy.livejournal.com]

Ah!

I hadn't thought to google. *is an idiot* Will try that now.