On: Why people confess to crimes they didn’t commit

[chrisseaton]

> and you have a self-defence baseball bat in the boot of your car

Well this isn't a great example because that is an offence and the Police would be right to do you for it! You're advocating lying to cover up offences for your own selfish benefit!

[DanBC → chrisseaton]

But it's only an offence if it's there for self defence.

If the police say "what's this bat for" and you know you only use it to play baseball then you should say that.

If they ask and you say "I'm not saying anything" then they have enough to arrest you and take you to the station.

This supports your point: in England it's often a good idea to talk to the police.

[chrisseaton → DanBC]

> But it's only an offence if it's there for self defence.

Well yes that was the situation described that I was replying to.

> you have a self-defence baseball bat

[mffnbs → chrisseaton]

It's not hard to turn that into a situation where it can work against you.

What if it were your child's baseball bat? You can say that's what it's for but then what if the cop asks you if you'd use it for self defense? Would saying yes potentially be incriminating?