Police and taking details...

Bennie-Mac · 3 Feb 2009 at 23:20

I got searched and had my details taken right outside my own house for "looking shifty" apparantly there were reports of a burglar snooping around and the police were hiding down the street keeping an eye out. I asked them if they had seen me come out of my own front door and light up my cigarette and they said "yes, but we thought we had better check you out anyway." WTF?

Gilbretto · 3 Feb 2009 at 23:22

Raymond Lin said:
He didn't put you behind bars, cuff you, or take you down to the station for questioning. You are back at home 2 mins later in front of the PC, at which point were you guilty ?

Again! if you bothered to read the thread, the post of mine you are refering to, was refering to a poster who said he was pinned against the car and searched. This suggests that the police thought he was guilty of something. Without any proof.

Duff-Man · 3 Feb 2009 at 23:23

Raymond Lin said:
I failed to see what did the police do that made some people in this thread so offended?

They saw someone standing in the cold at night smoking, ask said person a couple of questions.

Now, is it that offensive to even ask you who you are and where you live? What are they supposed to ask instead, nice weather? What did you have for tea perhaps?

Since when did the police doing their job deserved being called names and since when asking a few questions violating your rights?

The OP didn't have a sign that says "Angel" on his forehead, any criminal could and would said the same thing "I live around the corner", and his driving licence proved OP right, I am taking down his details is merely to put it in his report after his patrol, and should any crimes being committed tonight in the area, he would have a contact or even possible suspect.

The ideal scenario is one where the police do not interfere with the lives of citizens unless they are suspected of involvement with a *specific* crime. Walking down the street at an unusual hour, or looking "rough" should not be cause for harassment. No, the questions asked were not unreasonable (as is usually the case), but being viewed as a criminal, even for a few minutes, is never an enjoyable experience. If an apology was given afterwards it would go a long way, but the usual response is either nothing, 'stay out of trouble', or 'head home now'. Rather condescending and completely unneccesary.

Out of interest, when is the last time you were stopped and questioned by the police when you were minding your own business?

Raymond Lin · 3 Feb 2009 at 23:24

Gilbretto said:
I have no problem with them asking me what i am doing. I told them, showed them proof, and rather than them saying "ok then mate, sorry for bothering you", they take my ID, without my permission and take my details.

He saw what you were doing, having a fag, keys could be for anything, unless you actually opened the door with those keys. I could've stand in front of your house holding some keys and said i live around the corner. That's not conclusive proof.

As for taking down your details, why didn't you fight him for your driving licence ? kick him in the balls, grab and run?

Honestly, your details are not a secret, the bank knows where you live, the electric & Gas company knows, the government knows, the DVLA knows, your playboy magazine subscription also knows. You made it out to be such a big deal, its not, really.

D.Roberts · 3 Feb 2009 at 23:24

let me shed light on the problem me and my girlfriend had well mainly my better half

was about 5-6 years ago near chrimbo my betterhalf (BH) wouldent hurt or do any thing wrong let alone was she was accused of well here it is.

10:00 pm i was at home i had a phone call from me betterhalf

"please come to mine the police are here opening all my presence wrecking my room theres riot van out front and a cop car"

yeah just for her

me "why"
BH "well they say ive been stealing money from an old man in the old peeps home"
me "haha be there in five"

i got there to see them actualy opening presence,cubaords,draws etc they found nothing but they took her to the cop station at about 11:00pm i had work but hey i followed her in the back of the van.
we got back home about 12:00/1:00 ish but we had to go back next week.

so we did after bleeding near £5.00 bus fair to be told we would have to come back next week the bloke aint here this was at the cop station.
so next week another £5.00 we got there.

coppper behind desk "someone will be out in a minute"

about 30mins later they did they took her of for what they said was finger prints etc etc then said did u want a loyer she said no but i said may as well as it was free.
we was then told we had to come back again a that point i was getting peed of but hey ok.

yet another £5.00 we got to the station and there was the loyer for me better half waitng we said hello etc etc but was told by the copper they could not see us i then said

me "do u know how many times we have been down here and how much it costs"

and then he said somthing i nearly jumped over counter for to smack him up he said

copper "well m8 if she hadent of done the crime u wouldent have to be here"

well i was peed off blah blah blah was said loyer heard it etc etc any way couple of days later me better half got a call from the cops

copper "we are no longer needing u to come this weekend we no longer suspect you bye"

no sorry nothing

so twts come to mind

uknowist · 3 Feb 2009 at 23:24

Meatball said:
That is a silly thing to be stopped for. However, if he had been lingering on the corner for 5-10 minutes that could been seen as suspicious behaviour. Sure, he may just be waiting for his friend to arrive but then again he may not. The officer doesn't know till he asks. Then you can see what kind of person they are .

yeah i see your point. However you dont have to give your details and so on if they have no reason to have them, but they'll make a big thing over it, until u either get fed up and tell them or they spout off some crap about why they need them, rather than just accepting you dont want to as its your right.

Raymond Lin · 3 Feb 2009 at 23:26

Duff-Man said:
Out of interest, when is the last time you were stopped and questioned by the police when you were minding your own business?

Never been stopped or searched, and i am a "ethnic minority".

neiljung · 3 Feb 2009 at 23:27

It's hardly surprising when you consider the kind of people who would actually want the job. 95% of them are jumped up little ***** who get a thrill out of enforcing their "authoritah", and the other 5% failed to get in to the fire service.

Bennie-Mac · 3 Feb 2009 at 23:27

D.Roberts said:
let me shed light on the problem me and my girlfriend had well mainly my better half

was about 5-6 years ago near chrimbo my betterhalf (BH) wouldent hurt or do any thing wrong let alone was she was accused of well here it is.

10:00 pm i was at home i had a phone call from me betterhalf

"please come to mine the police are here opening all my presence wrecking my room theres riot van out front and a cop car"

yeah just for her

me "why"
BH "well they say ive been stealing money from an old man in the old peeps home"
me "haha be there in five"

i got there to see them actualy opening presence,cubaords,draws etc they found nothing but they took her to the cop station at about 11:00pm i had work but hey i followed her in the back of the van.
we got back home about 12:00/1:00 ish but we had to go back next week.

so we did after bleeding near £5.00 bus fair to be told we would have to come back next week the bloke aint here this was at the cop station.
so next week another £5.00 we got there.

coppper behind desk "someone will be out in a minute"

about 30mins later they did they took her of for what they said was finger prints etc etc then said did u want a loyer she said no but i said may as well as it was free.
we was then told we had to come back again a that point i was getting peed of but hey ok.

yet another £5.00 we got to the station and there was the loyer for me better half waitng we said hello etc etc but was told by the copper they could not see us i then said

me "do u know how many times we have been down here and how much it costs"

and then he said somthing i nearly jumped over counter for to smack him up he said

copper "well m8 if she hadent of done the crime u wouldent have to be here"

well i was peed off blah blah blah was said loyer heard it etc etc any way couple of days later me better half got a call from the cops

copper "we are no longer needing u to come this weekend we no longer suspect you bye"

no sorry nothing

so twts come to mind

Been drinking have we?

Gilbretto · 3 Feb 2009 at 23:27

Duff-Man said:
Out of interest, when is the last time you were stopped and questioned by the police when you were minding your own business?

Is this aimed towards the OP (being me)?

It was when i was about 16. I had left my mates house and was walking home. Had combat trousers stuffed full of bottles of beer.

They pulled up and asked me what i had in my pockets. I showed them, then asked me if they could give me a lift home because it was cold! They said yes, gave me a ride home, no questions asked, no details taken. All good.

Why can't they all have sense like that?

Duff-Man · 3 Feb 2009 at 23:27

Raymond Lin said:
Never been stopped or searched, and i am a "ethnic minority".

Then I would politely suggest that you don't really have a valid perspective on this.

Gilbretto said:
Is this aimed towards the OP (being me)?

Nah - was aimed at Raymond Lyn

I was stopped once when I lived in Sheffield, drunk and underage... don't remember too much of it to be honest! Other than that, I've only been stopped since I moved to Nottingham about 4 years ago, though I have been stopped 6 or 7 times since then.

Meatball · 3 Feb 2009 at 23:28

uknowist said:
but they'll make a big thing over it, until u either get fed up and tell them or they spout off some crap about why they need them, rather than just accepting you dont want to as its your right.

Most people hand them over no questions but if someone doesn't want to give them they should never be forced to

. I can only answer for mine and the other people I work for. I'd never force details out of someone as I know if the roles were reversed I'd be ****** off if an officer gave me grief and forced details out of me.

GSDog · 3 Feb 2009 at 23:32

Duff-Man said:
No, the questions asked were not unreasonable (as is usually the case), but being viewed as a criminal, even for a few minutes, is never an enjoyable experience.

He was hardly being viewed as a criminal, they just asked for his details...

Raymond Lin · 3 Feb 2009 at 23:33

Duff-Man said:
Then I would politely suggest that you don't really have a valid perspective on this.

I don't really see how it is less valid, in fact, all we've got is 1 sided perspective from the people had bad experience with the police. If anything, we need someone who's had good dealing with the police in these instances to balance things out.

Gilbretto · 3 Feb 2009 at 23:34

Raymond Lin said:
I don't really see how it is less valid, in fact, all we've got is 1 sided perspective from the people had bad experience with the police. If anything, we need someone who's had good dealing with the police in these instances to balance things out.

Oh my god! for the 3rd time! Read the posts before posting yourself!

I have, about 4 posts up, talked about a positive experience with the police.

uknowist · 3 Feb 2009 at 23:36

Meatball said:
Most people hand them over no questions but if someone doesn't want to give them they should never be forced to . I can only answer for mine and the other people I work for. I'd never force details out of someone as I know if the roles were reversed I'd be ****** off if an officer gave me grief and forced details out of me.

exactly, i just think that a lot of cops(not all) just act like arrogant ***** just cos they can. But seeing as the OP wasnt arrested or anything its just one of those **** happens moments

D.Roberts · 3 Feb 2009 at 23:37

Bennie-Mac what makes u think ive been drinking?

Meatball · 3 Feb 2009 at 23:38

uknowist said:
exactly, i just think that a lot of cops(not all) just act like arrogant ***** just cos they can. But seeing as the OP wasnt arrested or anything its just one of those **** happens moments

Some are, it's unavoidable. You give people some power and it goes straight to their head. People like that shouldn't be in the force imo.

Duff-Man · 3 Feb 2009 at 23:39

GSDog said:
He was hardly being viewed as a criminal, they just asked for his details...

Under what circumstances would a police officer ask for details when the person was not being viewed as a criminal (other than as a witness)? They certainly weren't just performing a local census... It's the attitude of the officers which implicitly assumes guilt.

Maybe I'm being harsh. It's just that since I moved here I feel like I've been stopped an inordinate number of times, and the one time I actually went to the police voluntarily (I was mugged at gunpoint) I felt like I was a bit let down. I made my way to the local police station (Beeston), gave a seven page report, and then never heard anything back again.

I never used to have negative feelings towards the police.

Raymond Lin · 3 Feb 2009 at 23:40

Gilbretto said:
Oh my god! for the 3rd time! Read the posts before posting yourself!

I have, about 4 posts up, talked about a positive experience with the police.

That wasn't directed at you, and calm down.

As for your pockets full of beer, it's probably because you answered their questions, if they had asked you for your details and you refused, you'll probably end up in the police car anyway, except locked and taken you home in different circumstances.

It's just different people, different situations, you can't apply the same the every context.