This is disgusting:
Random stop and search, looking for things ‘related to terrorism’, like maps, or electronic components or large amounts of money…
Thankfully for the person in question he didn’t have anything which could be misconstrued as ‘useful for a terrorist’ and the police officers were at least fairly polite (although one refused to show his warrant card claiming the uniform was enough).
Unfortunately, it is the nature of any occupation which gives you power over others that it will attract those who wish to abuse that power.
The police should not have the right to randomly stop people, it offers no increase in security and only suffices to alienate people. It opens up even more areas for the police to abuse their power.
(Hat tip Cory Doctrow)
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August 23rd, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Yes: if you refuse the search you will be arrested. Of course, if you run away you apparently risk being shot. Guess its a good thing everyone in the train station will have 20 minutes spare to be searched.
Also: maps and plans are suspicious? Not a good day to be a conveyancer.
August 23rd, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Shit! The more I watched of that the angrier I got. Are these brute squads everywhere in London?
“Yes, orificer, I have a map of your HQ, a small thermonuclear device and a quantity of cannabis, now go fuck yourself you great lard-ass, rude, small vocabularied cutn. Now, get your fecking hands out my arse pockets please!”
I have to say I almost began to feel embarrassed for the little quiet one though - even if it was him who started it all. I’m so glad he was filming that - though interesting that he was told it was fine to film in a public place given all the stuff going on about photography in public places. Where are the “if you have nothing to hide” squad now?