Unmarked plod... is it really safe to pull over?
Discussion
Deltafox said:
Yes you are. The requirement to stop is that the officer must be in uniform, not the car.
Yeah but the guy that stops you is in a uniform, but he's not a cop dibs, what then? :shrugs:
Tough sh*t.
What makes you think Plod care about you?
gtr-gaz said:
Because the police do this day in day out, they have become blase about the risks involved.
No they haven't. Health and safety is a paramount policy in modern policing. Training is updated regularly. Blase is not the right word. There are occasions when I see someone stopped in a place where I would not personally choose to stop someone but there may be reasons for doing that that I am not party to. If I am party to those reasons, I would question it but I am also in the fortunate position of being able to do so.
Any reasonable police officer with any common sense at all should have no problem with you pulling over somewhere safe, the chances are that if they get agressive they are not real Police, I will drive to somewhere where I feel safe to stop, I have seen to many times (More than most Police) how a stationary car atracts other fast moving cars.
eccles said:
to me it sounds like there are some really cautios people out there, its not as if there's a lot of stories in the press about poeple impersonating police officers in unmarked cars. where do you draw the line on things that 'might' happen?
Well, there was one round here last week .....
any links?
I looked on the Eastern Daily Press (local paper) website ; I remember reading it (I think it was more like 3-4 weeks ago), but couldn't find entry under "Fake Policeman" or any other similar search. Can't find anything on the cop website either
CombeMarshal said:You and me both, Quarry...Tower...Camp...but you're a tad closer to the action.
Any reasonable police officer with any common sense at all should have no problem with you pulling over somewhere safe, the chances are that if they get agressive they are not real Police, I will drive to somewhere where I feel safe to stop, I have seen to many times (More than most Police) how a stationary car atracts other fast moving cars.
mungo said:
A police motorway patrol vehicle has warning equipment - blue lights and rear red warning lights - clear to see from a long distance to all traffic driving down the motorway. The car will be positioned behind your car. This makes a stop on the hard shoulder far safer than a car without emergency equipment... people will be aware of your presence on the hard shoulder.
The requirement to stop is totally lawful and enforceable. You would very highly likely find yourself arrested and charged with failing to stop in the circumstances you describe.
So, you on one hand you are agreeing that the hard shoulder is a dangerous place and on the other hand your blue and red lights render it a safe place? I have seen a number of filmed instances on TV were patrol cars were rammed from behind on the hard shoulder, and it leads me to believe that whatever the circumstances, the hard shoulder is not a suitable place for the police to do their office work. Why can't you leave at the exit and conduct your business there, afterall that's the advice I got and you endorsed?
kenp said:
By all means don't stop, it means i'll get to drive your car to the nick because you'll be making the journey in the back of a smelly transit van.
That might be a bit of an eye-opener. A 320bhp Exige is a less well-behaved than a stock Elise
In that case Ken, definately don't pull over!!! S1 Exige.....
Take care mate,
HW
Have to say Mungo....I'd be VERY wary....even of blue lights these days!....
Recently a BMW with dubious flashing blue lights passed me near Manchester in broad daylight....I STILL don't think it was a Copper!...
Stop for him in a Jag?.... I think NOT!....
>> Edited by 8Pack on Monday 17th April 04:38
Recently a BMW with dubious flashing blue lights passed me near Manchester in broad daylight....I STILL don't think it was a Copper!...
Stop for him in a Jag?.... I think NOT!....
>> Edited by 8Pack on Monday 17th April 04:38
The posts illustrate two things to me:
1) A generalised failure to recognise that, these days, there is nothing common about sense; and
2) The particular failure of many BiB to recognise that whatever the empirical (laid down by law), the perception (by Joe Public of what is safe to do) constitutes reality.
Streaky
1) A generalised failure to recognise that, these days, there is nothing common about sense; and
2) The particular failure of many BiB to recognise that whatever the empirical (laid down by law), the perception (by Joe Public of what is safe to do) constitutes reality.
Streaky
mungo said:
A police motorway patrol vehicle has warning equipment - blue lights and rear red warning lights - clear to see from a long distance to all traffic driving down the motorway. The car will be positioned behind your car. This makes a stop on the hard shoulder far safer than a car without emergency equipment... people will be aware of your presence on the hard shoulder.
The requirement to stop is totally lawful and enforceable. You would very highly likely find yourself arrested and charged with failing to stop in the circumstances you describe.
So, you on one hand you are agreeing that the hard shoulder is a dangerous place and on the other hand your blue and red lights render it a safe place? I have seen a number of filmed instances on TV were patrol cars were rammed from behind on the hard shoulder, and it leads me to believe that whatever the circumstances, the hard shoulder is not a suitable place for the police to do their office work. Why can't you leave at the exit and conduct your business there, afterall that's the advice I got and you endorsed?
Anywhere on any road is a dangerous place as there are big metal objects moving around at speed.
A police officer would never stop you in a place that would carry a serious risk.
My advice= Stop when required to do so. Otherwise you risk being nicked for failing to stop. It's your choice.
One could argue that simply being born in this world is dangerous and risky
You are choosing to miss the point. The hard shoulder is a dangerous place. Find a less dangerous place! You haven't offered a single reason why you stop and interview people on the hard shoulder.
I was amazed to see what a chesire warrant card looked like. I was talking to a girl last weekend who's a WPC and she showed me the card. It was basically a piece of card with a photo prit sticked into and then laminated. I've seen buss passes that looked more official. Maybe the police should get their own identification cards sorted out before they start shouting to parliament to saddle the rest of the public with them!
If I was stopped by an unmarked car then I'd keep the doors locked the engine running and one hand hovering over my MagLite until I was happy the guy was indeed plod. My limited experience of plod procedure is that they assume the worst will happen and behave accordingly. They can't blame members of the public if we do the same.
If I was stopped by an unmarked car then I'd keep the doors locked the engine running and one hand hovering over my MagLite until I was happy the guy was indeed plod. My limited experience of plod procedure is that they assume the worst will happen and behave accordingly. They can't blame members of the public if we do the same.
mungo said:
For the prompt and effective investigation of an offence / other police business. If police were not allowed to stop people on the hard shoulder to perform road policing then traffic police would be completely ineffective and one would argue the roads would then become far more dangerous.
I think what thsi really boils down to is, do you want motorways policed or not?
So the reason boils down to one of convenience. You don't actually demonstrate how using a less dangerous venue would make the traffic police 'completely ineffective'. Your conclusion that this would lead to 'more dangerous' roads is an unproven and questionable assumption, whereas stopping on the hard shoulder is acknowledged as being dangerous.
In comparison 'the prompt and effective investigation of an offence / other police business' goes out of the window (rightly so) when following joy-riders/car thieves, because it is DANGEROUS.
As requested, details of the Norfolk fake Cop.
http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/news/s
New plea on bogus PC incident
IAN CLARKE
18 April 2006 15:49
Police yesterday issued a fresh appeal for witnesses to an incident in which a bogus police officer turned on blue flashing lights and a siren and flagged down a motorist.
As the EDP reported last month, the driver had his keys snatched from the ignition and was accused of dangerous driving by the man posing as a police officer.
A police investigation is continuing into the incident on Saturday March 4 at about midday on the A1067 road on the Fakenham side of Great Witchingham.
Officers are keen to speak to any witnesses and in particular the driver of a red Ford Focus car and the female driver of a BMW X5 car, who it is believed may have information that will assist the inquiry.
The EDP understands the bogus police officer was a retained firefighter, who has been suspended while the investigation continues.
The victim, Robert Bucke, of Dersingham, near King's Lynn, was left terrified.
Mr Bucke was travelling with his wife and daughter towards Norwich when he went to overtake a silver Honda CRV at a point in the road where a 50mph speed limit came to an end.
He said as did so the driver of the Honda speeded up and tried to close the gap between his vehicle and a black BMW X5 ahead of it.
When Mr Bucke pulled in the Honda driver turned on blue flashing lights and an emergency siren and gestured to him to pull over
The drivers of the two cars highlighted by police or anyone else in the area at the time who saw a car using blue lights and a siren are asked to contact PC Adrian Fryett at Hunstanton Police Station on 0845 456 4567.
http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/news/s
New plea on bogus PC incident
IAN CLARKE
18 April 2006 15:49
Police yesterday issued a fresh appeal for witnesses to an incident in which a bogus police officer turned on blue flashing lights and a siren and flagged down a motorist.
As the EDP reported last month, the driver had his keys snatched from the ignition and was accused of dangerous driving by the man posing as a police officer.
A police investigation is continuing into the incident on Saturday March 4 at about midday on the A1067 road on the Fakenham side of Great Witchingham.
Officers are keen to speak to any witnesses and in particular the driver of a red Ford Focus car and the female driver of a BMW X5 car, who it is believed may have information that will assist the inquiry.
The EDP understands the bogus police officer was a retained firefighter, who has been suspended while the investigation continues.
The victim, Robert Bucke, of Dersingham, near King's Lynn, was left terrified.
Mr Bucke was travelling with his wife and daughter towards Norwich when he went to overtake a silver Honda CRV at a point in the road where a 50mph speed limit came to an end.
He said as did so the driver of the Honda speeded up and tried to close the gap between his vehicle and a black BMW X5 ahead of it.
When Mr Bucke pulled in the Honda driver turned on blue flashing lights and an emergency siren and gestured to him to pull over
The drivers of the two cars highlighted by police or anyone else in the area at the time who saw a car using blue lights and a siren are asked to contact PC Adrian Fryett at Hunstanton Police Station on 0845 456 4567.
vonhosen said:
You'll soon know if you don't stop, because it won't be long before you see more than one car.
Bin there, done it!
Did a 4 car overtake in the Marcos coming out of Esher years ago, only to find the lead car (an Astra) trying to keep up with me through the Scilly Isles roundabout. Eventually stopped after much gesticulation, only to see a beefy bloke in jeans get out and come towards me. Decided that the whole thing seemed a bit dodgy so floored it and set off again with him following me, only to meet a convoy of marked up Metros two miles up the road, coming towards me on my side of the road with blues a'flashin'.....
They were gentle with me and let me go after a stern talking to,
but I suppose that if the original copper had been in uniform I would have stayed stopped the first time. Girls should be more cautious though - it's not a bad approach to assume that everyone is a nutter until proven otherwise. Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff