Police surveillance state
Discussion
Well, I've been a (very) long time lurker but am finally creeping out of the shadows.
I decided to go for a drive tonight about 11pm, clear my head but staying 'local' (in my opinion).
Stopped by two armed police cars on my return home who have proceeded to tell me when exactly when I left my house, where I had driven to and that I shouldn't be out driving - looks like they are (ab)using the ANPR road system (not exactly sure what cameras, certainly didn't spot any police) to track our movements. He pulled out some form of tablet that had all the details on my movements on the road network.
Luckily no fine but pleased to see the police surveillance state is in full operation.
Ps - the drive was from near Gatwick to near Brighton (30 min drive, c.25 miles).
I decided to go for a drive tonight about 11pm, clear my head but staying 'local' (in my opinion).
Stopped by two armed police cars on my return home who have proceeded to tell me when exactly when I left my house, where I had driven to and that I shouldn't be out driving - looks like they are (ab)using the ANPR road system (not exactly sure what cameras, certainly didn't spot any police) to track our movements. He pulled out some form of tablet that had all the details on my movements on the road network.
Luckily no fine but pleased to see the police surveillance state is in full operation.
Ps - the drive was from near Gatwick to near Brighton (30 min drive, c.25 miles).
anonymous said:
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Sounds like he was out for a recreational drive, so he was eventually going back to where he started from. I agree they're probably entitled to look at the ANPR database but is he really *obliged* to account for his actions, even at the moment? Genuine question.I also agree with your second paragraph, which makes it all the more sad that somebody (whoops, sorry, it was a "technical issue") has managed to delete 150,000 records from the PNC with apparently little hope of them being recovered. What an unfortunate coincidence if the deleted data included ANPR captures of somebody driving from, just for the sake of argument, London to Durham and it's beautiful environs?
"Reasonable excuse".
This means it could be to visit a person in need, a family member or friend who is in trouble, it could be a drive for mental health reasons. These are all valid reasons, among many others.
I would say that using ANPR to track movements is not right, but the Police clearly do what they want these days.
This means it could be to visit a person in need, a family member or friend who is in trouble, it could be a drive for mental health reasons. These are all valid reasons, among many others.
I would say that using ANPR to track movements is not right, but the Police clearly do what they want these days.
From my perspective, the law states you are allowed out to avoid harm (injury or illness) - for my own mental well-being, the trip was necessary.
My post was intended to highlight the use of the ANPR road system to interrogate movements, and as a warning to others.
Took a night off from the county lines drugs running!
My post was intended to highlight the use of the ANPR road system to interrogate movements, and as a warning to others.
Took a night off from the county lines drugs running!
k essential has to do with it?anonymous said:
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Fair enough.anonymous said:
[redacted]
It's a big story (in my sphere anyway) - 150k records deleted inadvertently during a regular "weeding" exercise to expunge aged data. Not sure how it happened, it seems to have affected fingerprint records, details of suspects in cases, people who were arrested and then released without charge, etc, etc. Part of the problem in recovering the data seems to be that it was spread around many different databases so yes, ANPR data might not have been affected. meloe said:
From my perspective, the law states you are allowed out to avoid harm (injury or illness) - for my own mental well-being, the trip was necessary.
My post was intended to highlight the use of the ANPR road system to interrogate movements, and as a warning to others.
Took a night off from the county lines drugs running!
You are correct it is completely legal to go out for a drive for mental health reasons is a reasonable excuse. Ask the Police officers would rather pull you over or attend your home to deal with a suicide.My post was intended to highlight the use of the ANPR road system to interrogate movements, and as a warning to others.
Took a night off from the county lines drugs running!
Stay strong mate. I feel I also need to go for a drive but I struggle even with the motivation to walk to my car!
underwhelmist said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Sounds like he was out for a recreational drive, so he was eventually going back to where he started from. I agree they're probably entitled to look at the ANPR database but is he really *obliged* to account for his actions, even at the moment? Genuine question.I also agree with your second paragraph, which makes it all the more sad that somebody (whoops, sorry, it was a "technical issue") has managed to delete 150,000 records from the PNC with apparently little hope of them being recovered. What an unfortunate coincidence if the deleted data included ANPR captures of somebody driving from, just for the sake of argument, London to Durham and it's beautiful environs?
meloe said:
I think the question you should be asking is whether you are happy for the police/State to readily track your movements in a free any open society, when you haven't committed a criminal offence.
Because we’re in the middle of a pandemic. So how does going for a drive help your mental state? Piginapoke said:
meloe said:
I think the question you should be asking is whether you are happy for the police/State to readily track your movements in a free any open society, when you haven't committed a criminal offence.
Because we’re in the middle of a pandemic. So how does going for a drive help your mental state? meloe said:
I think the question you should be asking is whether you are happy for the police/State to readily track your movements in a free any open society, when you haven't committed a criminal offence.
Given current traffic levels I suspect you just flagged up as an unusual movement likely by a genuine ne'er-do-well. So they checked you out and decided it was innocent.:shrug:
Piginapoke said:
So how does going for a drive help your mental state?
Removes you from a potentially stressful environment and allows you to focus your mind on something else for a while, imagine the OP was having a row with his partner, would you sooner he got in his car went for a drive to calm down or stayed at home and beat 9 bells out of his partner?Going stir crazy in lockdown, that should be a good enough reason to go for a drive and clear your mind.
Edited by berlintaxi on Saturday 16th January 08:30
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