Parking by speed van could mean jail
Discussion
http://www.getreading.co.uk/story.asp?intid=12165
Threat despite pulling up in a legal bay
carpenter Glen Southern could wind up behind bars after parking perfectly legally next to a police speed camera van.
Mr Southern pulled up next to the van outside Burghfield Village Stores but as he went to go inside he was stopped by an officer. When the 38-year-old, of Little Heath Road, Tilehurst, refused to move his legally parked van he was told he would be reported for obstructing a police officer.
Mr Southern told the Post: “I was about to go into the village stores to talk to a builder who I was going to do some work for.
“The police officer told me to move my van. The car park was full and I explained why I was parked there and I said I didn’t see why I should move my van because I had a perfectly legitimate reason to park there.
“He said I was ‘very sad’ and that he was going to report me for obstructing a police officer in the execution of his duty.
“He also made me produce all my documents at a police station.”
There is a permanent speed enforcement camera about 100 yards up the road from the stores in Reading Road.
Now Mr Southern plans to write to Thames Valley Police to complain that the officer was exceeding his duty.
He said: “He was well over the top. I was completely within my rights to park there.
“There was nowhere else to move my van in the car park at the time.
“I couldn’t see any reason at all why I should move it.”
If police decide to pursue Mr Southern for obstruction, he could end up with a
one-month jail term or a £1,000 fine.
Dan Campsall, communications manager for the Thames Valley Safer Road Partnership which operates the speed camera vans, said: “There has been some mobile enforcement taking place in the village to complement the existing cameras, which, as you are probably aware, are placed in close proximity to schools and care homes for the elderly.
“Enforcement is also taking place there to support the National Reassurance Policing project which, after surveying local residents, identified that speeding motorists were the biggest concern to safety.
“In the specific case, it was a police officer at the site who had obtained permission from the shop owner to carry out enforcement. The gentleman concerned was asked to move his van but was unhelpful to the officer concerned.
“As the case is likely to go to court for obstructing the police officer in the
execution of his duties – I don’t feel I can comment further on the details of the case at this time because of sub judice.”
A Reading Police spokeswoman said: “Mr Southern should make a formal complaint if he feels he has been treated unfairly.”
Threat despite pulling up in a legal bay
carpenter Glen Southern could wind up behind bars after parking perfectly legally next to a police speed camera van.
Mr Southern pulled up next to the van outside Burghfield Village Stores but as he went to go inside he was stopped by an officer. When the 38-year-old, of Little Heath Road, Tilehurst, refused to move his legally parked van he was told he would be reported for obstructing a police officer.
Mr Southern told the Post: “I was about to go into the village stores to talk to a builder who I was going to do some work for.
“The police officer told me to move my van. The car park was full and I explained why I was parked there and I said I didn’t see why I should move my van because I had a perfectly legitimate reason to park there.
“He said I was ‘very sad’ and that he was going to report me for obstructing a police officer in the execution of his duty.
“He also made me produce all my documents at a police station.”
There is a permanent speed enforcement camera about 100 yards up the road from the stores in Reading Road.
Now Mr Southern plans to write to Thames Valley Police to complain that the officer was exceeding his duty.
He said: “He was well over the top. I was completely within my rights to park there.
“There was nowhere else to move my van in the car park at the time.
“I couldn’t see any reason at all why I should move it.”
If police decide to pursue Mr Southern for obstruction, he could end up with a
one-month jail term or a £1,000 fine.
Dan Campsall, communications manager for the Thames Valley Safer Road Partnership which operates the speed camera vans, said: “There has been some mobile enforcement taking place in the village to complement the existing cameras, which, as you are probably aware, are placed in close proximity to schools and care homes for the elderly.
“Enforcement is also taking place there to support the National Reassurance Policing project which, after surveying local residents, identified that speeding motorists were the biggest concern to safety.
“In the specific case, it was a police officer at the site who had obtained permission from the shop owner to carry out enforcement. The gentleman concerned was asked to move his van but was unhelpful to the officer concerned.
“As the case is likely to go to court for obstructing the police officer in the
execution of his duties – I don’t feel I can comment further on the details of the case at this time because of sub judice.”
A Reading Police spokeswoman said: “Mr Southern should make a formal complaint if he feels he has been treated unfairly.”
puggit said:
Dan Campsall, communications manager for the Thames Valley Safer Road Partnership which operates the speed camera vans, said: “There has been some mobile enforcement taking place in the village to complement the existing cameras, which, as you are probably aware, are placed in close proximity to schools and care homes for the elderly.
'communications manager' says "Won't somebody think of the children and old people...."
petros said:
You know, when I was a naive teenager I used to think the Police were fair and used to argue their side and stand up for them. Now, tend to think most of em are bent and any problems they've got they've brought on themselves.
I knew the police had a P/R problem when my mum started to think like that.
dirkgently said:
You know, when I was a naive teenager I used to think the Police were fair and used to argue their side and stand up for them. Now, tend to think most of em are bent and any problems they've got they've brought on themselves.
I knew the police had a P/R problem when my mum started to think like that.
Listen there's a problem when Mrs FiF sees someone driving dangerously, swerving from side to side to prevent people overtaking on a dual. Nearly got their Landy up onto two wheels. Two credible witnesses, good driver id, so it was a dangerous charge bang to rights.
She thought bollix to it. Thanks dearest!
Pathetic, absolutely pathetic. It is past time these SCPs were wound up as the anti-social extortion agencies they are.
As for the police...well, as those BiB on here will say, you will get bad apples in any job...just that the police are more visible. But there DOES seem to be more of them nowadays...
As for the police...well, as those BiB on here will say, you will get bad apples in any job...just that the police are more visible. But there DOES seem to be more of them nowadays...
If poor Mr Southern took the view off the Scamera van by parking in a legitimate parking spot, then why didn't the operator in the Scamera van use his nous and park in that spot when it became available and before Mr Southern parked his vehicle in that spot? I suppose that these sescendants of Dick Turpin wish that they could shoot anyone who stand in their way, like Great-Uncle Dick would have done.
I'm sure that if Mr Southern's vehicle had been a car, which would have obscured the view of the Scamera van for oncoming cars, the Scamera Operator would like that hence the reason why he didn't park in the spot Mr Southern chose.
>> Edited by buckshee on Thursday 9th June 14:49
I'm sure that if Mr Southern's vehicle had been a car, which would have obscured the view of the Scamera van for oncoming cars, the Scamera Operator would like that hence the reason why he didn't park in the spot Mr Southern chose.
>> Edited by buckshee on Thursday 9th June 14:49
'Parking Kills'
In that story it says the officer had got permission from a shop owner to carry out speed enforcement??
What is that all about? Does that mean he was parked in a parking bay that belonged to a shop? EG parked on Private property?
If so, surely it means that the van driver was parked on private property too?
In that story it says the officer had got permission from a shop owner to carry out speed enforcement??
What is that all about? Does that mean he was parked in a parking bay that belonged to a shop? EG parked on Private property?
If so, surely it means that the van driver was parked on private property too?
dirkgently said:
You know, when I was a naive teenager I used to think the Police were fair and used to argue their side and stand up for them. Now, tend to think most of em are bent and any problems they've got they've brought on themselves.
I knew the police had a P/R problem when my mum started to think like that.
damn right.
my mother is probably the most law abing person i've ever met, strong sense of duty, moral responsibility etc but the other day I overheard her talking to her friend and saying how you can't trust the police these days, no concern for ordinary people and only concerned with perceived human rights and money making...I was quite frankly shocked. I was brought up to believe (I can hear her words now..) that the police were your friends, they were on your side, they'll always stand up for you against the criminal and you must be polite and friendly to them..
I cannot believe how it's changed in what amounts to only 10 or so years.
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