Thread by @DrRebeccaTidy

In England, police can put a marker on a central database to say you're suspected of benefiting from crime with ZERO evidence to support this false claim + the banks will close your accounts, leaving you bank-less.

I've no criminal charges/convictions, but now no banking access.

Just like for an arrest, the threshold for this marker is "reasonable suspicion".

A police officer's "reasonable suspicion" can get you de-banked for life, with no need for a judge, magistrate or independent person to review + approve this. 🤷‍♀️

I'm a normal person – a single mum to a 6-year-old – who hasn't benefited from crime nor done anything else illegal.

Every payment into this bank account comes from a mainstream media outlet. Yet I'm forced to figure out how to pay the bills + buy groceries with no bank account.

There's no legal mechanism for challenging these decisions + no special considerations for single parents of young kids.

Frankly, this is the oppressive reality of Britain in the 21st-century with its badly-implemented anti-money laundering legislation.

Ironically, it's 4 years today since Devon + Cornwall Police arrested me on suspicion of class A drug importation.

I'm still "released under investigation" – RUI – with zero updates on my case.

I've no idea how it can take a police force with millions of pounds in resources over 4 years to investigate a crime.

But I guess if you're trying to "prove" something that hasn't happened, then it's an endless task... just like RUI. 🤷‍♀️

@BillyGr67435254 I provided everything they asked for + they confirmed receipt. Then I got this. And every single payment into that account - which has only been open a few years - came from a mainstream media outlet. Yet they were obsessed with assets + my other sources of "wealth".

@brit_cop They left a voicemail + sent a letter to confirm receipt, then we had a 90 minute recorded phone call - aka an interrogation without a duty solicitor - about those sources of "wealth".

@brit_cop I've never spoke to you or been horrible to you. Nor have I broken the law.

Yet here you are making snarky comments on my Twitter when I'm doing my best to look after my family.

Maybe you should stop snarking at me + go look after your own family. Or do your job.

@AextheticIsHere The only missing document was written in 2003 + came from a law firm that's long since shut down.

@BooksProfile @Daisy3554781631 And also, given that most drug dealers trade in cash or bitcoins, freezing accounts has a limited utility. If I was actually capable of selling drugs, I'd 100% have started selling them again now I can't get paid by my clients + have a child to feed, etc.

@Notsafes_dad @paulierunner They said they can't guarantee I will get the account unblocked, but I'm really grateful for their help, as I don't even have a phone signal at home really nor internet access (renovating).

@Craig_Hearne I wasn't involved, so I'm hoping I will be okay. It's been a long four years though.

@HouseOFJerkface I had confirmation of receipt. I also had a long recorded phone call where I was interrogated about these documents to check I wasn't lying. So I complied as fully as I could. I'm obviously not going to share the personal financial info in the letter, due to fraud risk.

@nmjr0 @sofiaicarbone I didn't want to include that info, as it's very specific with names + locations, etc, despite it dating back to 2003z