Police Harassment.
Discussion
OK i admit i own a Ford sierra as a run around but is that any reason why i constantly get stopped by Basingstoke police,i seem to be getting stopped every other week on the way home from dropping my cab off and the short drive home.
Its getting to the point now where i feel i have had enough,tonight i saw a police car in the distance in my rear view mirror so tried to get home quickly,i knew they were following at a distance so when i got home i hurriedly went in doors.
Sure enough a knock at the door followed and a couple of police persons forced their way gently into my hall,me not knowing my rights didnt make contact and allowed this,i was fuming but kept control and went and got my car documents folder while they checked all details over the radio.
If this wasnt enough they then recall any offence when i was a youngster dating back to the 70's and 80's over their radios.
Gobsmacked i asked,i thought they were spent,but was told nope they are with you for life,i was made to feel a right crim for things that happened decades ago that i was punished for
Sorry for the ramble but i'm getting sick of it,not only do i have to endure pissed up crap at times from the dross ime picking up in my cab but also what seems like police harassment every other week.
Its starting to get me down.
Its getting to the point now where i feel i have had enough,tonight i saw a police car in the distance in my rear view mirror so tried to get home quickly,i knew they were following at a distance so when i got home i hurriedly went in doors.
Sure enough a knock at the door followed and a couple of police persons forced their way gently into my hall,me not knowing my rights didnt make contact and allowed this,i was fuming but kept control and went and got my car documents folder while they checked all details over the radio.
If this wasnt enough they then recall any offence when i was a youngster dating back to the 70's and 80's over their radios.
Gobsmacked i asked,i thought they were spent,but was told nope they are with you for life,i was made to feel a right crim for things that happened decades ago that i was punished for
Sorry for the ramble but i'm getting sick of it,not only do i have to endure pissed up crap at times from the dross ime picking up in my cab but also what seems like police harassment every other week.
Its starting to get me down.
Well all i can say to them is i'm just a cab driver going home,thats all,and stopping me every other week and now bringing up past offences that date back to my teens,decades ago at 4.30am in the morning in my own hallway when all i do is work seven days a week for the past few decades and have tried to put things behind me in a responsible manner is really starting to grinde me down.To be honest i feel really annoyed.
ZR1cliff said:
tonight i saw a police car in the distance in my rear view mirror so tried to get home quickly,i knew they were following at a distance so when i got home i hurriedly went in doors.
And after that, you were surprised that the Police wanted to speak to you?Give your head a wobble.
Actually Cliff there's a number of factors at work here.
I used to get stopped every couple of weeks years ago. Reason being I was working very, very late (typically 3:00am in an IT office job) and would drive home afterwards in my Renault 12 TS (a real shitter). I would do this around a little town even smaller than Basingstoke and some country roads. Almost inevitably if I passed a police car I'd be followed, stopped, and briefly checked up on. It got to the point I actually carried all the documents to save being "given a producer" - saved time.
Now it took a good ten minutes each time and got dull but I could see why: I was one of a very few cars driving about at that time and was a young bloke in a crap car. Eventually a couple of 'em started to remember me! "Oh. Its you, Don. Off you go."
So: with the best will in the world your Sierra can only be a "runner" and you're driving about at a time when the local plod have feck all else to do (even the crims are asleep). Its inevitable that your "stop" rate will be far, far higher than someone driving about in the rush hour in a eurobox.
The advice I can offer is to make the whole annoying process quicker and easier - get copies of all your documents and carry 'em with you. Basingstoke is a bit big, sadly, to get to know local plod, but you never know.
Whether or not it gets you down is going to be down to how you look at it. If you think its victimisation you'll feel bad. If you can see its the inevitable consequence of your working practice you can just deal with it and get on with life.
I used to get stopped every couple of weeks years ago. Reason being I was working very, very late (typically 3:00am in an IT office job) and would drive home afterwards in my Renault 12 TS (a real shitter). I would do this around a little town even smaller than Basingstoke and some country roads. Almost inevitably if I passed a police car I'd be followed, stopped, and briefly checked up on. It got to the point I actually carried all the documents to save being "given a producer" - saved time.
Now it took a good ten minutes each time and got dull but I could see why: I was one of a very few cars driving about at that time and was a young bloke in a crap car. Eventually a couple of 'em started to remember me! "Oh. Its you, Don. Off you go."
So: with the best will in the world your Sierra can only be a "runner" and you're driving about at a time when the local plod have feck all else to do (even the crims are asleep). Its inevitable that your "stop" rate will be far, far higher than someone driving about in the rush hour in a eurobox.
The advice I can offer is to make the whole annoying process quicker and easier - get copies of all your documents and carry 'em with you. Basingstoke is a bit big, sadly, to get to know local plod, but you never know.
Whether or not it gets you down is going to be down to how you look at it. If you think its victimisation you'll feel bad. If you can see its the inevitable consequence of your working practice you can just deal with it and get on with life.
Did they give any reason why they needed to see your details etc.
Any clue as to why you keep getting stopped.
Have you given lots of verbal to them now or in the past?
Why on seeing them did you do a runner? ish..
Its quite possible that you are only being stopped because at 4.30 in a morning there is a liklihood of a driver being drunk.
Possibly nothing more than a coincidence.
There must be a reason that they delve into the NPC records. After checking your car details they should be satisfied that everything is ok and yet they then do an NPC check.
They are possibly deliberately trying to provoke you at this stage.
Don't react.
Say yes and no.
The quicker you comply the faster they will go.
If even after you have complied you feel they are being unneccessarily insistent with their inquries then consider raising the matter with your local MP go to a local solicitor . Some have 'surgeries' where you get half an hour free to explain a problem and see if its worth pusuing.
Also write to your local Chief Constable.
As mentioned if this is allways happening to you as you finish work early in the morning it may be just bad luck to be driving round that early.
The force may have a drink drive push at the moment.
It could also be that you have become part of a boredom buster.
What frame of mind are the officers who stop you?
generally genial or a little officious.
If they are genial but sarky then it may not be beyond the realms of possibility that your car has been unofficially targetted as a form of amusement to the night shift police.
We have heard of police officers playing 'snooker' with car colours so some form of 'game' is not beyond a possibility either.
Maybe there is a prize for the first one to make you 'blow up'
Whatever . . bear in mind it may just be a coincidence with you driving late at night.
Other than that don't be peeved.
Start as if today is a clean sheet and ignore the fact you have been previously stopped as this will only lead to you possibly getting annoyed and beligerent if stopped again.
If you are stopped again simply and quietly ask for the details of the officers who stop you and the reason you were stopped. or failing that take their numbers either by memory or by writing them down.
If they make reference to your spent convictions again then this I would take as an attempt to deliberately wind you up.
There is no reason for a simple vehicle document check to end up with you being quizzed about your previous criminal activity from so long ago.
It has obviously led to you feeling persecuted and harrased which is precisely what has happened.
Please keep chilled though or you will handyourself to them on a plate.
Any clue as to why you keep getting stopped.
Have you given lots of verbal to them now or in the past?
Why on seeing them did you do a runner? ish..
Its quite possible that you are only being stopped because at 4.30 in a morning there is a liklihood of a driver being drunk.
Possibly nothing more than a coincidence.
There must be a reason that they delve into the NPC records. After checking your car details they should be satisfied that everything is ok and yet they then do an NPC check.
They are possibly deliberately trying to provoke you at this stage.
Don't react.
Say yes and no.
The quicker you comply the faster they will go.
If even after you have complied you feel they are being unneccessarily insistent with their inquries then consider raising the matter with your local MP go to a local solicitor . Some have 'surgeries' where you get half an hour free to explain a problem and see if its worth pusuing.
Also write to your local Chief Constable.
As mentioned if this is allways happening to you as you finish work early in the morning it may be just bad luck to be driving round that early.
The force may have a drink drive push at the moment.
It could also be that you have become part of a boredom buster.
What frame of mind are the officers who stop you?
generally genial or a little officious.
If they are genial but sarky then it may not be beyond the realms of possibility that your car has been unofficially targetted as a form of amusement to the night shift police.
We have heard of police officers playing 'snooker' with car colours so some form of 'game' is not beyond a possibility either.
Maybe there is a prize for the first one to make you 'blow up'
Whatever . . bear in mind it may just be a coincidence with you driving late at night.
Other than that don't be peeved.
Start as if today is a clean sheet and ignore the fact you have been previously stopped as this will only lead to you possibly getting annoyed and beligerent if stopped again.
If you are stopped again simply and quietly ask for the details of the officers who stop you and the reason you were stopped. or failing that take their numbers either by memory or by writing them down.
If they make reference to your spent convictions again then this I would take as an attempt to deliberately wind you up.
There is no reason for a simple vehicle document check to end up with you being quizzed about your previous criminal activity from so long ago.
It has obviously led to you feeling persecuted and harrased which is precisely what has happened.
Please keep chilled though or you will handyourself to them on a plate.
'a form of amusement for the night shift police'
Mark
You are only showing your own ignorance of what it is like to work nights in the police.
I appreciate you have an opinion on all and everything, and have established a reputation for being Mr Unlucky, but why not try and limit your pontificating to subjects you know something about?
Just an idea.
I speak as one who did earlies, lates and nights for 26 years.
Mark
You are only showing your own ignorance of what it is like to work nights in the police.
I appreciate you have an opinion on all and everything, and have established a reputation for being Mr Unlucky, but why not try and limit your pontificating to subjects you know something about?
Just an idea.
I speak as one who did earlies, lates and nights for 26 years.
ZR1cliff said:
The Last time i got pulled was November the 16th,when i got locked in the back of a police car while they took details from,before letting me go.
complain of unlawfull inprosonment. all so keep a camcorder in the car and use it.
Edited by holborn on Saturday 8th December 09:18
Chrispy Porker said:
'a form of amusement for the night shift police'
Mark
You are only showing your own ignorance of what it is like to work nights in the police.
I appreciate you have an opinion on all and everything, and have established a reputation for being Mr Unlucky, but why not try and limit your pontificating to subjects you know something about?
Just an idea.
I speak as one who did earlies, lates and nights for 26 years.
I appreciate your response however Basingstoke is not a huge town and at 4.30 its not neccessarily rockin'Mark
You are only showing your own ignorance of what it is like to work nights in the police.
I appreciate you have an opinion on all and everything, and have established a reputation for being Mr Unlucky, but why not try and limit your pontificating to subjects you know something about?
Just an idea.
I speak as one who did earlies, lates and nights for 26 years.
It hit national news that police officer prior to speed cameras used alledgedly used to pick cars in colour as if playing snooker?
Or was that an urban myth. it certainly made the motoring press.
And are you actually saying that it never happens that a particular person never gets singled out either for operational reasons or even a police officers personal grudge.
Edited by mark69sheer on Saturday 8th December 09:40
Edited by mark69sheer on Saturday 8th December 09:43
ZR1cliff said:
If this wasnt enough they then recall any offence when i was a youngster dating back to the 70's and 80's over their radios.
Gobsmacked i asked,i thought they were spent,but was told nope they are with you for life,i was made to feel a right crim for things that happened decades ago that i was punished for
I know exactly how annoying this is. I could not believe it when they threw stuff at me that i had done as a 15 yr old, some 23yrs later when i told them i have not been in trouble with the police. I always thought (because that what they told me) that a childs crimes are wiped off the record after 7 years and do not have to be declared after that.Gobsmacked i asked,i thought they were spent,but was told nope they are with you for life,i was made to feel a right crim for things that happened decades ago that i was punished for
Then you find yourself being accused of being a liar when you do not declare it.
I felt like i had become a responsible adult until i was treated like that. I now realise that i will always be treated with suspicion by the authorities for my actions as a child, no matter what i do as an adult.
Edited by Hedders on Saturday 8th December 09:45
Well, they are entitled to enter your house if they think you have committed a crime and gone in there.
I would say you want to have a look at the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act as well.
When you say you got home as quickly as you could, does that mean you drove a bit quicker? All within the highway code?
AS above, you could keep a log, record each officers number, the date and time you are stopped etc.. The Police can be done for harassment as well as anyone else.
I would say you want to have a look at the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act as well.
When you say you got home as quickly as you could, does that mean you drove a bit quicker? All within the highway code?
AS above, you could keep a log, record each officers number, the date and time you are stopped etc.. The Police can be done for harassment as well as anyone else.
mark69sheer said:
Chrispy Porker said:
'a form of amusement for the night shift police'
Mark
You are only showing your own ignorance of what it is like to work nights in the police.
I appreciate you have an opinion on all and everything, and have established a reputation for being Mr Unlucky, but why not try and limit your pontificating to subjects you know something about?
Just an idea.
I speak as one who did earlies, lates and nights for 26 years.
I appreciate your response however Basingstoke is not a huge town and at 4.30 its not neccessarily rockin'Mark
You are only showing your own ignorance of what it is like to work nights in the police.
I appreciate you have an opinion on all and everything, and have established a reputation for being Mr Unlucky, but why not try and limit your pontificating to subjects you know something about?
Just an idea.
I speak as one who did earlies, lates and nights for 26 years.
It hit national news that police officer prior to speed cameras used alledgedly used to pick cars in colour as if playing snooker?
Or was that an urban myth. it certainly made the motoring press.
And are you actually saying that it never happens that a particular person never gets singled out either for operational reasons or even a police officers personal grudge.
Edited by mark69sheer on Saturday 8th December 09:40
Edited by mark69sheer on Saturday 8th December 09:43
I do not think the OP is a target.
Personal grudge? Hardly. What has he done.?
My advice would be to drop a line to the local commander, explaining that he often gets stopped as he is a taxi driver going home.
This will get read out at briefings and should put a stop to it.
Mind you if he speeds to get away, what does he expect?
I have heard of lots of ways of passing the time on nights, but harassing innocent motorists when you know them to be so, is not one of them.
Some advice.
1. Go to Basingstoke nick and ask to see the duty Inspector. State that it is not a complaint but you need some advice that may eventually lead to a complaint if that advice is not given to you. Take your documents with you.
2. You may get seen by the duty Sgt if the Inspector is not available. Tell him/her your problem and that it is getting you down.
3. State that you understand the reasons behind the checks(intelligence gathering, reducing crime etc) but after xx number of stops, is this necessary to continue (accepted that if you commit a moving traffic offence and are seen doin so, you would expect to be spoken to about it).
4. Ask if it is possible to get a note placed on the briefing system including vehicle details to inform patrol officers that you are legitmate regarding documents and that you are taxi driver working into the small hours.
5. Offer a business card for officers to place on the notice board in case they need a cab at any time. Maybe suggest you will do a discounted rate, you will be surprised how many officers use cabs when off duty and you may get to know some of them personally so that they spread th word you are one of the good guys. They are also unlikely to behave badly in your cab and throw up in it (although I can't guarantee about the throwing up bit!)
6. Don't try and escape from them if they get behind you by driving more rapidly to get home. If they do stop you, offer them a business card after they have finished with you. Be friendly and state you understand what they are doing but this is becoming a regular situation that is achieving nothing other than delaying you from getting home.
7. Try and turn the situation o your advantage by getting them onside. Some of my staff use the same cab drivers that they meet when they are at work when they need one. That includes trips to the airport when they go on holiday.
8. Understand they have a job to do like you do and try to get their empathy about the same sort of horrible people you have to deal with on the late night shift. They are grateful that you get them away from the town centres when the clubs kick out.
I know its difficult when people who drive older vehicles work into the small hours are the only people on the roads at times. It is inevitable that they will attract attention and be spoken to. Basingstoke police may have up to 5 shifts of 10 plus patrol officers plus special constables and other roaming specialist units such as dogs, traffic and ARV units. You could be stopped by up to 60+ individual officers before they have all stopped you once and found that you are legitimate.
Shifts rotate so at some stage different shifts will be on the roads when you are with officers you have not yet met.
PRINT THIS OFF AND TAKE IT WITH YOU SO YOU DON'T FORGET WHAT INFORMATION TO PASS
1. Go to Basingstoke nick and ask to see the duty Inspector. State that it is not a complaint but you need some advice that may eventually lead to a complaint if that advice is not given to you. Take your documents with you.
2. You may get seen by the duty Sgt if the Inspector is not available. Tell him/her your problem and that it is getting you down.
3. State that you understand the reasons behind the checks(intelligence gathering, reducing crime etc) but after xx number of stops, is this necessary to continue (accepted that if you commit a moving traffic offence and are seen doin so, you would expect to be spoken to about it).
4. Ask if it is possible to get a note placed on the briefing system including vehicle details to inform patrol officers that you are legitmate regarding documents and that you are taxi driver working into the small hours.
5. Offer a business card for officers to place on the notice board in case they need a cab at any time. Maybe suggest you will do a discounted rate, you will be surprised how many officers use cabs when off duty and you may get to know some of them personally so that they spread th word you are one of the good guys. They are also unlikely to behave badly in your cab and throw up in it (although I can't guarantee about the throwing up bit!)
6. Don't try and escape from them if they get behind you by driving more rapidly to get home. If they do stop you, offer them a business card after they have finished with you. Be friendly and state you understand what they are doing but this is becoming a regular situation that is achieving nothing other than delaying you from getting home.
7. Try and turn the situation o your advantage by getting them onside. Some of my staff use the same cab drivers that they meet when they are at work when they need one. That includes trips to the airport when they go on holiday.
8. Understand they have a job to do like you do and try to get their empathy about the same sort of horrible people you have to deal with on the late night shift. They are grateful that you get them away from the town centres when the clubs kick out.
I know its difficult when people who drive older vehicles work into the small hours are the only people on the roads at times. It is inevitable that they will attract attention and be spoken to. Basingstoke police may have up to 5 shifts of 10 plus patrol officers plus special constables and other roaming specialist units such as dogs, traffic and ARV units. You could be stopped by up to 60+ individual officers before they have all stopped you once and found that you are legitimate.
Shifts rotate so at some stage different shifts will be on the roads when you are with officers you have not yet met.
PRINT THIS OFF AND TAKE IT WITH YOU SO YOU DON'T FORGET WHAT INFORMATION TO PASS
Edited by Mg6b on Saturday 8th December 10:46
Mg6b said:
5. Offer a business card for officers to place on the notice board in case they need a cab at any time. Maybe suggest you will do a discounted rate, you will be surprised how many officers use cabs when off duty and you may get to know some of them personally so that they spread th word you are one of the good guys. They are also unlikely to behave badly in your cab and throw up in it (although I can't guarantee about the throwing up bit!)
A neighbour of mine is a taxi-driver and he says Police Officers frequently look askance at being asked to pay at all. As they're out and about at all hours, they're often asked if they've seen anything, yet other times get nothing but hassle.Chrispy Porker said:
'a form of amusement for the night shift police'
Mark
You are only showing your own ignorance of what it is like to work nights in the police.
I appreciate you have an opinion on all and everything, and have established a reputation for being Mr Unlucky, but why not try and limit your pontificating to subjects you know something about?
Just an idea.
I speak as one who did earlies, lates and nights for 26 years.
Mark
You are only showing your own ignorance of what it is like to work nights in the police.
I appreciate you have an opinion on all and everything, and have established a reputation for being Mr Unlucky, but why not try and limit your pontificating to subjects you know something about?
Just an idea.
I speak as one who did earlies, lates and nights for 26 years.
Snooker! Most officers would get a break of about 10 before play was curtailed by someone somewhere beating their missus up. Seriously officers stop vehicles either because the driver needs to be spoken to about their driving or there may be a job in it. What would be the point of stopping a red car just because it was a red car?
You are more likely to get stopped if you indulge in bangernomics simply because older vehicles are less likely to have insurance etc or are more likely to be driven by our frequent flyers. Drug runners know this and often use small brand new hire cars. The chances are greater still if you drive late at night as officers tend to be less busy as decent people are in bed but crims never sleep.
I can honestly say I have never seen anyone stopped just for the hell of it.
Edited by Sheriff JWPepper on Saturday 8th December 11:57
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