Advancing towards a police state

[jugs]

Love the way the police (who dont understand the law) try and make it up as they go along, and then invent "complaints".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/feb/21/photographer-films-anti-terror-arrest

Worrying !!

 

[Chickenjohn]

I watched the video and I think what happened is that he aroused Police suspicion by refusing to give his details. The Police have to go on instinct a lot of the time, as experience and instinct often lead them to the criminal. He triggered the thought in the officers minds that something was amiss. Had he just given his name and address that would have been the end of the matter- as it was for his friend. Plus to keep on asking "are we being detained" is just asking to get arrested!!! and actually quite antagonistic in a passive-aggressive way. The Police seemed to be polite but assertive throughout.

Don't think this is the path to a Police state at all, just the Guardian blowing a whole lot of nothing out of proportion.

 

[cjbp]

I watched the video and I think what happened is that he aroused Police suspicion by refusing to give his details. The Police have to go on instinct a lot of the time, as experience and instinct often lead them to the criminal. He triggered the thought in the officers minds that something was amiss. Had he just given his name and address that would have been the end of the matter- as it was for his friend. Plus to keep on asking "are we being detained" is just asking to get arrested!!! and actually quite antagonistic in a passive-aggressive way. The Police seemed to be polite but assertive throughout.

Don't think this is the path to a Police state at all, just the Guardian blowing a whole lot of nothing out of proportion.

Regardless. What is the issue with taking photo's in a public place anyway?

 

[brookie456]

Yes, lived in S.A. under apartheid and all the wrong things it entailed (was not on P.W. Botha's speed dial). In the past 20-odd years I have noticed how the police in the UK have become more of a government enforcement agency than policing for the people. Shoot me down in flames, i don't give a toss, I really thought we were the country we claim to be Still, proud of the little islands-the people make it.

 

[Sam]

Looks like a setup to me he knew exactly how the police were going to react should have took the guy up an alleyway and kicked him up and down the place for wasting police time.
Not one for the police state but they are damned if they do and damned if they dont he was asked a simple question name and address he was uncooperative drawing suspition to himself and why is he hiding his face from the camera? Deport the freekin ****.

 

[pedrobedro]

Sorry I couldn't watch it, there was someone playing the bagpipes in the background

 

[brookie456]

Sorry I couldn't watch it, there was someone playing the bagpipes in the background

Bloody faultless

 

[Sam]

Sorry I couldn't watch it, there was someone playing the bagpipes in the background

Now now we are bordering on a racist argument!!!!!

 

[brightspark]

the old bill arent that bad realy .some are good some.are bad. if they ask u for your details there in there rights. just give them otherwise quite rightly they think u have something to hide. so why make a mountain out of a mole.hill

 

[Chickenjohn]

Exactly! It's like they are entitled to pull you over in your car and ask a few questions. Has happened to me a few times, then they check you are legit on the computer and you are on your way. Not a bad thing if it means by doing this they catch uninsured and unregistered cars driven by illegal drivers, which we get a lot of in kent. As long as the police are polite and don't beat me up, I don't see the problem!

 

[Chickenjohn]

Regardless. What is the issue with taking photo's in a public place anyway?

There is nothing wrong with taking pictures in a public place. It is just a little bit unusual to be taking pictures of complete strangers though! And the Police are trained to look out for and investigate anything unusual. The PCO approached the man, asked his details, basically just to check there was nothing wrong. When he refused to co-operate with a simple polite request, that is when the Police get suspicious and when he keeps asking "am i being detained", he is just asking for it.

The Police are trained to look out for anything suspicious.

 

[Luke]

Unfortunately, being a complete **** isn't against the law. I think life would be much simpler if it was , certainly sort a few people out...

 

[metalspanner]

It was 'clarified' just recently because too many nosey coppers were abusing the power of stop and search under the prevention of terrorism, if you are in a public place minding your own business even god forbid taking a photo.
As long as you are committing no offence that would make you liable for arrest, then you are under NO obligation to answer any questions to either a psco or uniformed officer.
The police have taken upon themselves to use the available legislation to cover everything from tying your shoelace to taking a few tourist snaps, they have no right to overuse and abuse this legislation except under the very circumstances it was ment for, the detection and prevention of terrorist attacks.

Driving a vehicle you have to answer all questions asked,?

I think the person in the video was aware of the above and was probably a set up stunt to prove, that you can get nicked for minding your own buisness and in contravention to the current guidelines.

 

[jugs]

There is nothing wrong with taking pictures in a public place. It is just a little bit unusual to be taking pictures of complete strangers though!

The Police are trained to look out for anything suspicious.

A man with a white beard in a red suit & men with funny hats beating drums, very strange & suspicious.

 

[brookie456]

Now now we are bordering on a racist argument!!!!!

I'm 1/2 Scot...still an English b*st*rd when I go and see my dad Love Scotland, liberal to the hilt - apart from the dreaded English

 

[JimM]

Can't see the problem with the police asking questions myself. If it was me taking the pics, I'd give the police my details (I've got nothing to hide!) and assume that was the end of it. In fact I'd be somewhat pleased that the police were taking an active interest in the public's security instead of sitting in a car on the side of the road waiting for some poor sod to come along at 35mph in a 30

 

[mike os]

basically they are saying "go on facist pig, arrest me for being a wankre"

 

[hotrodder]

I think the person in the video was aware of the above and was probably a set up stunt to prove, that you can get nicked for minding your own buisness and in contravention to the current guidelines.

I got that impression too, several of these sorts of vids around maybe something to do with tpuc...

 

[Sam]

I'm 1/2 Scot...still an English b*st*rd when I go and see my dad Love Scotland, liberal to the hilt - apart from the dreaded English

I was Irish this afternoon between 4.00 and 5.30 well had to give my wife some verbal support shouting at the TV. As the T shirt says A.B.E. !

 

[MrFluffy]

I have nothing to hide or fear. But Id still refuse to give my details unless I was commiting an act which waranted the conversation. I consider photography not to be part of acts which require legal intervention, along with the people who actually write the law of the land.

The photography thing has been bubbling away for ages. Basically the met have decided to exceed their remit in law and their guidelines conflict with what the gov states the law is.
Go read a little. This guy got arrested for "being too tall", but there is a good run through of the issues :-
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/07/15/tall_photographers/

While the police are good chaps and chapesses, doing a difficult job etc etc ad nauseum, they should not make the law merely enforce it. The system is designed that way because of checks and balances to stop it turning into a totalitarian state.

I could go on, but I wont. You can make your own minds up.