Policeman

[Spuderoony]

I was stopped and searched under the Terrorism Act at Leeds train station last year

Anyone who knows it will know there's a Milly's cookies near the main entrance - all I did was walk in, put my backpack down (next to my feet) and ask for some cookies.

That got me a search, a 5-minute Q&A in the middle of the station, and a pink slip showing why I'd been searched, under what Act, etc.

Felt sort of weird, I guess. But they're especially touchy with all things terrorist related in Leeds - the bombers came from just up the road, and in the summer of 2005 (I think) they had to shut the train station for a while, or something. Big bomb scare.

 

[player]

Just don't phone them up when that house alarm has been going off down the road for the last 30 minutes...


Or wait for a reply to the fraudulent transaction that you reported on your credit card...

 

[sunama]

This is the second time you have stated that you would refuse a search.

And he is exactly the sort of person who when getting searched would make the whole ordeal into a very major/long one. He also wont learn from his experience - he would do everything the same, everytime and put it down to victimisation.

Ive seen situations that shouldve been innocuous and over with in 2-4 mins, but some people make the situation into a major one.

Once I saw a woman stopped for having the wrong ticket at Liverpool St Stn. She was asked to surrender the ticket and go and buy another one. She kicked up an enormous fuss about it, even though she was in the wrong. Eventually, the police got involved and wanted her to calm down. She refused and started spouting abuse at the police (perhaps she thought that by shouting abuse she would be allowed to continue on her journey, unhindered). The 2 police officers then called another couple of officers over. They arrested this woman, but because she was now resisting arrest, they had to raise her in the air - each officer held a limb and together they raised her in the air - after which they lowered her to ground and then cuffed her. She was then stood by a pillar next to a police officer, in hand-cuffs, waiting to be "taken away".

All this couldve been avoided if she had just co-operated in the first instance.

Now here is the funny part. While all of the above was going on, another passenger who was totally unrelated to this woman, was walking past her. He was exitting the barriers and mustve been at least 20feet away from her. When he saw her shouting abuse, he also decided to shout abuse at the police officers. The police officers told the guy to continue on his way, but he wouldnt listen. They then searched the guy and found some illegal dvds on him. They arrested him. They then stood him next to the woman, both now in hand-cuffs, both waiting to be taken away.

The strange thing is that during the arrests they were very abusive and vocal. However, once they were stood by the pillar, in cuffs, they didnt say a single word. Not even a whimper.

 

[TheNuju]

Hi

While I do have the upmost respect for the law I can honestly say down here the level of respect towards them is dropping considerably. There have been 3 key events that have happened to me recently, 1 of which they handled extremely well, the other 2, well I wont even go there!

First event would be when my mother was attacked whilst inside her car, I raced to her rescue and so did the police, both arriving at roughly the same time, the officers were quick and caught the guy and were very helpful and polite, couldnt thank them anymore.

However, another time a youth was outside our house with a large knife of some description, me being me (SIA Doorman Trained) tackled the youth and with the aid of a neighbour had him withstrained and unable to move whilst another member of the public phoned the police, 35 minutes later we are still holding this guy outside with a knife laying on the grass, 43 minutes into the ordeal a single policeman arrives to ask if we still need assistance! This is crazy, we clearly reported and explained about an attack using a weapon and that the weapon holder had been caught under citizen arrest awaiting police help, obviously didnt matter to the police force.

The last incident evolves around my father who is a long distance HGV and PCV driver, he had taken a lorry containing 6 expensive cars up to birmingham for a car show, however enroute he was attacked and locked in his cab, while the thieves stole the cars he phoned the police who promised to send a unit out immediatly along with an ambulance. The ambulance arrived within 6 minutes but would not venture close to the scene without police presence, 20 minutes later the police had still not arrived but then phoned my dad saying 'do you still require assistance', the ambulance had left and my dad was left to drive to the nearest hospital and report in for 8 stitchs in his head and treatment for 2 cracked ribs and a dislocated wrist.

I have also had some major issues with them regarding Battel Bonfire Boyes bonfire evening of 2005 in which I was arrested for 'discharging a category 3 firework in a public place'. However what the police officer failed to take into account was the fact that I was one of the 4 registered pyrotechnic officials of the night, I was in full safety equipment, wearing the red firework crew overalls and uniform with my UPA (UK Pryo Assoc.) badge and licence and I was lighting the flare to start the events main procession! Completly pointless, wasted the time of 10,000+ people, cost £5000 in insurance and all because a police man wanted a 'good catch' as it was later termed!

As I said, I have a lot of respect for the good work the police do and that, however my negative experiences atm are far outweighing anything decent the police have done for me so respect is dwindling fast!

Mike