Policeman

Ex-RoNiN · 1 Jan 2007 at 23:25

the police do have to have a reason, but they don't have to tell you what it is

Of course they have to tell you.

stoofa · 2 Jan 2007 at 02:42

furnace said:
I don't understand how people can think it's OK to be pulled over and searched for no reason. Just more people who are fans of the big brother state we're creating around us.

Policemen aren't allowed to search you for no reason - if I was pulled over, I would never consent to a search or give any more details than I am legally required. Fair enough if I was driving erradically(sp?) or there was a shotgun on my parcel shelf, or I was wanted. But I'm not wanted and I don't drive erradically nor own a shotgun.

It's not ok for a random stranger to search my car for no reason, so why should a police officer be allowed to just because he's wearing uniform?

Also, it's clear that some officers are looking for a fight. You just need to watch a few police chase programs to find that out - they're patronising, arrogant bullies who need to be put back in their place.

Not all of them, obviously. There are some very nice police people - and I appreciate the ones who say good morning to you when you walk past them. I think it's nice when a person becomes a police officer, but it's not nice when a person becomes a pig

Sounds like somebody watches all of the US cop shows and US media coverage.
I really don't know where you get the idea that the police are "looking for a fight".
It wouldn't exactly take them long to find one if they really were.

You're just another one of the current batch of people who just like to make life as difficult as possible for people who are attempting to do their jobs.
Sit down and watch some of the No swearing! on the UK police programs.
Typical example:

How something could go:

Police pull motorist.
Ask motorist questions
Motorist answers questions
Motorist had nothing to hide, turns out they had done nothing wrong.
Motorist is on his way five minutes later

How it seems to go with the "What right do you have people"

Police pull motorist
Motorist immediately starts giving attitude
Motorist is asked questions
More attitude
Police ask to search
More attitude
Half an hour later motorist is on his way
Hour later motorist comes to public forum and tells us all how the police were just looking for a fight, how they will all take a bribe, have quota's to meet etc.

D33 · 2 Jan 2007 at 03:24

lol well said

Raymond Lin · 2 Jan 2007 at 04:08

If you have nothing to hide, co-operate. Being difficult will make everything more difficult.

sunama · 2 Jan 2007 at 04:26

stoofa said:
How something could go:

Police pull motorist.
Ask motorist questions
Motorist answers questions
Motorist had nothing to hide, turns out they had done nothing wrong.
Motorist is on his way five minutes later

How it seems to go with the "What right do you have people"

Police pull motorist
Motorist immediately starts giving attitude
Motorist is asked questions
More attitude
Police ask to search
More attitude
Half an hour later motorist is on his way
Hour later motorist comes to public forum and tells us all how the police were just looking for a fight, how they will all take a bribe, have quota's to meet etc.

I think that sums it up perfectly.

The weird thing is though, that the person in the 2nd example never learns from that experience. He doesnt understand the copper is being paid for his time and that if the whole event takes 2hrs, the police officer will not be the loser. In fact it will be the person who was stopped that will be losing 2hrs of his own time. The best way to deal with a stop and search is to oblige and be polite. In general, this will allow you to get away with as little delay as possible. The second you start giving attitude, the copper will start to delay you for as long as possible. I know this, as in my job, Ive done this myself. Remember the copper who is stopping you is assessing your behaviour and attitude from the moment he has made contact with you. He is assessing your "state" (drunk or totally sober), the way you speak the way you are dressed, etc. If you start giving attitude he/she may well think that you could have something to hide and may want to "dig deeper" and carry out a more thorough check and may even decide to search you (or you vehicle).

As part of my job working for London Underground, I routinely work with the police. From what Ive seen they dont need a good reason to search you. If they want, they can grab anyone travelling through a station and say we would like to search you. After the search they offer to give you a "receipt" to say that you were searched and the possible reason why - the reason doesnt have to be a good one though, anyone can be stopped and searched. The rules change (in London, anyway) after 7th July.

furnace · 2 Jan 2007 at 10:28

I'm actually very insulted by that, stoofa. I don't come on here to be called "just another one of the current batch of people who just like to make life as difficult as possible for people". I might have contrasting opinions but I don't expect that to make me subject to insult

I have, and never will be, difficult to police just for the sake of it. But if a policeman pulls me over and asks to search my car, I'd say no, not unless you have a warrant or good cause for suspicion. However, if a policeman says to me "Where are you off to?" in a conversational manner, I'd say "Chichester. Whys that?"... but if it was in an accusing manner, I'd be more like "Why?". It totally depends on their attitude as to my attitude, but I'd never make it diffucult for them. I find it quite liberating (right word to use there?) to have my car searched, so wouldn't expect that without good reason. I find it very irritating to be presumed guilty for something, and quite often it seems the police are just trying to find out what that something is.

And no I was talking about UK police programs, drug bust squads and traffic police more specifically. Far too heavy handed and patronising. When someone's standing there accepting arrest, I don't expect to see them get violently pushed to the ground by about 3 officers on a program which is supposed to show you all the wonderful work the police are doing.

sunama said:
As part of my job working for London Underground, I routinely work with the police. From what Ive seen they dont need a good reason to search you. If they want, they can grab anyone travelling through a station and say we would like to search you. After the search they offer to give you a "receipt" to say that you were searched and the possible reason why - the reason doesnt have to be a good one though, anyone can be stopped and searched. The rules change (in London, anyway) after 7th July.

They do need reason, but they don't need to tell it to you unless you ask - in which case they are "obliged to answer"... But section 44 of the terrorism act is pretty much an excuse to search anyone

Johnny Girth · 2 Jan 2007 at 10:39

Sometimes the police are alright - I drove the wrong way down a 1 way system (there was no one around and it was only for 10 metres, still in the wrong I know) and unfortunately it was right next to a police station. Sirens go on, I get pulled over. Guy says that it was daft, don't do it again but he's not going to give me a ticket as he's got murderers and rapists to catch! Good attitude.

PMKeates · 2 Jan 2007 at 10:56

All the times I've been pulled over by the police, they were for very genuine reasons. On one count I was acting suspiciously (Unintentionally), and the other I was speeding in a car that wasn't yet registered within 100 miles of where it was, nor on the insurance database - so that's fair enough!

In both cases, after about 15 seconds talking to me, I think they'd decided to "let me off". I think it's all about attitude.

Sp00n · 2 Jan 2007 at 11:00

Yea i got stopped for driving quite quickly. They didn't even get out the car, just said "calm down and stick the speed limits please" ... "yes officer"

PMKeates said:
I think it's all about attitude.

Word. People laugh at me for brown nosing the police but it really helps out, i almost caused a BIG accident by pulling infront of a copper in a bus lane (longish story) but they let me off because i was very apologetic. could have EASILY been done for driving without due care + attention.

Justintime · 2 Jan 2007 at 11:08

Been out with a turkish/born here mate of mine doing some electrical work and got back late one night, twas around 2003 mid year-ish. Got pulled over, and the first thing the copper said was "speaka da english?" - in that accent, no joke, we were deeply offended to say the least and i replied in a rather hyped up poshy accent "well, no sir, can't say i speak a wooord to be honest", that ticked him off proper. He goes, "well you can shut your **** mouth, you're not my main concern here, this *** is" I go to him "i'm actually of caribbean descent", he goes "well shut your jigabo or whatever they call you these days, mouth" Now i was ready to get mental but my mate calmed me down and the pigs partner came up, they searched us well and good but found nothing, spent a good 20mins looking like street scum getting our car ransacked and all our tools etc.. thrown about though. Wanted to report it but my mate said why bother, they've done that to me like 4 times since i've started driving 11yrs ago. Hence when i hear news of a fed being smoked or somesuch i shed no tears. To this day i have no idea why we were stopped, we were doing the limit, vehicle was fine and my mates a non drinker, guess they just wanted to harass someone.

Visage · 2 Jan 2007 at 11:12

YoungBlood said:
could have been worse, he could have burned out your clutch Clicky

Arf-age.

Visage · 2 Jan 2007 at 11:19

Justintime said:
Been out with a turkish/born here mate of mine doing some electrical work and got back late one night, twas around 2003 mid year-ish. Got pulled over, and the first thing the copper said was "speaka da english?" - in that accent, no joke, we were deeply offended to say the least and i replied in a rather hyped up poshy accent "well, no sir, can't say i speak a wooord to be honest", that ticked him off proper. He goes, "well you can shut your **** mouth, you're not my main concern here, this *** is" I go to him "i'm actually of caribbean descent", he goes "well shut your jigabo or whatever they call you these days, mouth" Now i was ready to get mental but my mate calmed me down and the pigs partner came up, they searched us well and good but found nothing, spent a good 20mins looking like street scum getting our car ransacked and all our tools etc.. thrown about though. Wanted to report it but my mate said why bother, they've done that to me like 4 times since i've started driving 11yrs ago. Hence when i hear news of a fed being smoked or somesuch i shed no tears. To this day i have no idea why we were stopped, we were doing the limit, vehicle was fine and my mates a non drinker, guess they just wanted to harass someone.

A racist policeman?

Surely some mistake.....

Justintime · 2 Jan 2007 at 11:58

Yea its us Ethnics always blowing these things out or proportion and trying to make money from a lawsuit

SGCWill · 2 Jan 2007 at 12:01

megatron said:
Scotland got a little self automomy but I think u will find that Northern Ireland is happy to follow English law as opposed to the Republic of Ireland's law.

indeed, i'd pick england over ireland nearly 100% of the time. however our laws are different to english laws, as this country is still "a state of war" and that's why we have R plates, sky high insurance and most english insure'ers wont touch us with 12ft clown poles. Also our cost of living is a lot less apparently.

Incidentally, since I passed my test I haven't been stopped once. previously i once got stopped 13 times in one week, by the same car, and cop on the same shift she was a woman, and apparently she fancied the nuts of both me and my bro (drove a 2l redtop astra ).

Also my mate was sitting on my bike outside the kebab shop and got done for no license/insurance and the keys werent even in the bike!

I don't mind being stopped and asked to produce - it's their job but things like me mate getting taken to court for sitting on the bike was a bit daft.

Rossmac · 2 Jan 2007 at 13:30

SGCWill said:
indeed, i'd pick england over ireland nearly 100% of the time. however our laws are different to english laws, as this country is still "a state of war" and that's why we have R plates, sky high insurance and most english insure'ers wont touch us with 12ft clown poles. Also our cost of living is a lot less apparently.

R plates down in a month

Insurance is a bitch over here - cost 950 quid for my younger brother (17) to be on 95 clio 1.4, and then an extra 150 for me (20).

You are right though when you say our cost of living is a lot less, I'm moving to Dublin in june for a placement year and I can't wait to be hit with the living costs down there!

Johnny Girth · 2 Jan 2007 at 14:15

Er, £950 for a newly qualified driver on a 1.4 semi-boy racer car in Northern Ireland?

Sounds like he got an amazingly good deal.

wordy · 2 Jan 2007 at 14:31

stokefan said:
OP, what a waste of your time, and a waste of taxpayers money.

I, like lots of others in this thread, and life generally am bored and ashamed of the attitude of our national Police Force.

It seems that some people, certainly some people who post on this forum have some alliance with the police and i've got no idea why. All me and every single one of my friends, family and acquaintances have never had one single good encounter with the Police, so i cant understand this pro Police attitude.

Happy new Year all!

I have a pro police attitude and can give you an example of why.

Late 2005 the cold water pipe to our bathroom sink split during the early hours of the morning and water was jetting out of the pipe and flooded the bathroom. The kitchen ceiling was going to cave in and water had worked it's way through the cement in the walls and was streaming down the outside of the house.

While getting the stop tap from the shed and getting the water switched off a neighbour heard the commotion and came to help, We ripped the carpet out of the bathroom and threw it out of the window as it was sodden and very heavy, we also had to punch a hole in the kitchen ceiling to allow water to come through and take the weight off the ceiling. All this was being done by torchlight as water had hit a light and tripped the fuse box. Another neighbour hearing the noise and seeing two blokes throwing things from the windows assumed we were burglers and called the police.

While we were working on getting the electricity back on 6 police officers came through the back door(which was open) and said they had a report of a couple of blokes turning the house over. After explaining what was going and one of the police calling the dispatch and reported that everything was ok, he explain that three squad cars had responded to the inital call, a riot van was on the way with an additional 6 officers and the police helicopter had been put of 5 minutes notice to get in the air and assist if the perceved burlagers did a runner.

While obviously not needed in this instance I was very grateful that they had responded so quickly and in quite a large number.

Gaygle · 2 Jan 2007 at 16:33

wordy said:
I have a pro police attitude and can give you an example of why.

Late 2005 the cold water pipe to our bathroom sink split during the early hours of the morning and water was jetting out of the pipe and flooded the bathroom. The kitchen ceiling was going to cave in and water had worked it's way through the cement in the walls and was streaming down the outside of the house.

While getting the stop tap from the shed and getting the water switched off a neighbour heard the commotion and came to help, We ripped the carpet out of the bathroom and threw it out of the window as it was sodden and very heavy, we also had to punch a hole in the kitchen ceiling to allow water to come through and take the weight off the ceiling. All this was being done by torchlight as water had hit a light and tripped the fuse box. Another neighbour hearing the noise and seeing two blokes throwing things from the windows assumed we were burglers and called the police.

While we were working on getting the electricity back on 6 police officers came through the back door(which was open) and said they had a report of a couple of blokes turning the house over. After explaining what was going and one of the police calling the dispatch and reported that everything was ok, he explain that three squad cars had responded to the inital call, a riot van was on the way with an additional 6 officers and the police helicopter had been put of 5 minutes notice to get in the air and assist if the perceved burlagers did a runner.

While obviously not needed in this instance I was very grateful that they had responded so quickly and in quite a large number.

lol, woah, quite a turn out huh?

I remember when i was 16 odd, me and friends were just down on the airfield on a summer evening, drinking a bit, just messing around (no houses around for quite a long way), suddenly we get 3 police cars and a police van coming into the airfield saying someone has been "kicking a bus shelter". This was all in the middle of nowhere and we were quite shocked!

Visage · 2 Jan 2007 at 16:36

wordy said:
I have a pro police attitude and can give you an example of why.

Late 2005 the cold water pipe to our bathroom sink split during the early hours of the morning and water was jetting out of the pipe and flooded the bathroom. The kitchen ceiling was going to cave in and water had worked it's way through the cement in the walls and was streaming down the outside of the house.

While getting the stop tap from the shed and getting the water switched off a neighbour heard the commotion and came to help, We ripped the carpet out of the bathroom and threw it out of the window as it was sodden and very heavy, we also had to punch a hole in the kitchen ceiling to allow water to come through and take the weight off the ceiling. All this was being done by torchlight as water had hit a light and tripped the fuse box. Another neighbour hearing the noise and seeing two blokes throwing things from the windows assumed we were burglers and called the police.

While we were working on getting the electricity back on 6 police officers came through the back door(which was open) and said they had a report of a couple of blokes turning the house over. After explaining what was going and one of the police calling the dispatch and reported that everything was ok, he explain that three squad cars had responded to the inital call, a riot van was on the way with an additional 6 officers and the police helicopter had been put of 5 minutes notice to get in the air and assist if the perceved burlagers did a runner.

While obviously not needed in this instance I was very grateful that they had responded so quickly and in quite a large number.

It was probably 5 minutes before shift change and they all fancied some overtime.....

helpimcrap · 2 Jan 2007 at 16:40

my local police are ok considering some of the things ive been caught doing.

150 in a 50... up to 80mph of that on 1 wheel and overtaking cars, scraping knee across roundabouts, all with an illegal exhasut, plate and visor.

took him 3 miles to catch me and he put me down as 75. all on video too lol.

3 points was fair i thought...