Being followed by the Police. Why?
Discussion
I had to nip out at 1.45AM this morning to get some medicine for the wife. Drove down to the local Tesco and on the way back noticed I was being followed. The car behind caught up quickly and took the same route but wasn't indicating. Got to an NSL dual carriageway and accelerated briskly from 30 to 60. Car behind gradually caught up. I turned left. He turned left. Went through some twisty 30 roads to another NSL at which point I accelerated up to the 60 and he gradually caught up. By this time I've done a massive circle and avoided home just in case. I've always been a little paranoid about being followed.
Got to a roundabout and I finally see the Police livery down the sides of the car behind. Now knowing it's a police car I'm wondering what he's doing. Why is he following me? In the end I turned off the road and pulled over. I was being distracted by him and either wanted him to get out and have a chat or him to pass me. He didn't stop and passed me and I gave it a couple minutes to cool off and get focused.
Apart from checking MOT, Insurance and Tax. Is there any reason to be following someone whilst driving like that? I'm genuinely interested as it's not the first time it's happened and I'm sure it won't be the last. Just trying to get an idea of why they follow people. Is it to try and catch them out with speed? Or perhaps they think the car is stolen?
Just for reference. It was a MET marked car with twin crew. I was in a Golf R.
Got to a roundabout and I finally see the Police livery down the sides of the car behind. Now knowing it's a police car I'm wondering what he's doing. Why is he following me? In the end I turned off the road and pulled over. I was being distracted by him and either wanted him to get out and have a chat or him to pass me. He didn't stop and passed me and I gave it a couple minutes to cool off and get focused.
Apart from checking MOT, Insurance and Tax. Is there any reason to be following someone whilst driving like that? I'm genuinely interested as it's not the first time it's happened and I'm sure it won't be the last. Just trying to get an idea of why they follow people. Is it to try and catch them out with speed? Or perhaps they think the car is stolen?
Just for reference. It was a MET marked car with twin crew. I was in a Golf R.
ashleyman said:
I had to nip out at 1.45AM this morning to get some medicine for the wife. Drove down to the local Tesco and on the way back noticed I was being followed. The car behind caught up quickly and took the same route but wasn't indicating. Got to an NSL dual carriageway and accelerated briskly from 30 to 60. Car behind gradually caught up. I turned left. He turned left. Went through some twisty 30 roads to another NSL at which point I accelerated up to the 60 and he gradually caught up. By this time I've done a massive circle and avoided home just in case. I've always been a little paranoid about being followed.
Got to a roundabout and I finally see the Police livery down the sides of the car behind. Now knowing it's a police car I'm wondering what he's doing. Why is he following me? In the end I turned off the road and pulled over. I was being distracted by him and either wanted him to get out and have a chat or him to pass me. He didn't stop and passed me and I gave it a couple minutes to cool off and get focused.
Apart from checking MOT, Insurance and Tax. Is there any reason to be following someone whilst driving like that? I'm genuinely interested as it's not the first time it's happened and I'm sure it won't be the last. Just trying to get an idea of why they follow people. Is it to try and catch them out with speed? Or perhaps they think the car is stolen?
Just for reference. It was a MET marked car with twin crew. I was in a Golf R.
One of the most nicked cars in the country cruising about at near 2am? I'd consider it worth radioing in.Got to a roundabout and I finally see the Police livery down the sides of the car behind. Now knowing it's a police car I'm wondering what he's doing. Why is he following me? In the end I turned off the road and pulled over. I was being distracted by him and either wanted him to get out and have a chat or him to pass me. He didn't stop and passed me and I gave it a couple minutes to cool off and get focused.
Apart from checking MOT, Insurance and Tax. Is there any reason to be following someone whilst driving like that? I'm genuinely interested as it's not the first time it's happened and I'm sure it won't be the last. Just trying to get an idea of why they follow people. Is it to try and catch them out with speed? Or perhaps they think the car is stolen?
Just for reference. It was a MET marked car with twin crew. I was in a Golf R.
codenamecueball said:
One of the most nicked cars in the country cruising about at near 2am? I'd consider it worth radioing in.
^ This. Obvious really. Had the same thing happen in my Focus ST in the small hours on my way home from work usually. Pulling over and stopping just makes them even more suspicious as it indicates to them you've got something to hide and are desperately trying to lose them. Best thing to do is just carry on with your journey as normal. I've had them follow me to my house twice and park up in another space a bit further away then watch to see where I go. I guess when they see me entering my house and run the VRN which matches the address they are satisfied it's all above board and off they go. Tbh I'd rather they do that rather than stop me and give me the Spanish Inquisition when I've got places to be.
Vaud said:
benjijames28 said:
The golf r is the career criminal / scumbag lease car of choice at the moment.
It was 2am
Do the maths.
This.It was 2am
Do the maths.
Quite reassuring actually for you to continue your Golf R ownership. A few have abandoned ownership due to the idea of having their house broken in and keys stolen.
I think they clocked you because of the insane "road rage" videos you publish on youtube, afterall our freedom is being eroded and they know who you are!....all those non events........... they wanted to see "the man" but I think they bottled it, and were probably too busy stroking each other, who knows it's a mystery!
codenamecueball said:
One of the most nicked cars in the country cruising about at near 2am? I'd consider it worth radioing in.
Butter Face said:
Also, it's 10 Days before Christmas. Lots of drink drivers around at 1.45am I'd suggest.
Quick follow, see how the driving is going.
...and as soon as they're potentially clocked in the mirror, the route starts to get a bit circular and weird... almost like the driver's trying to lose them.Quick follow, see how the driving is going.
The computers are crap and take forever to come back with a result, hence the long period that they were behind you waiting for it. At least you were still I the warmth of your car and not standing at the roadside while the machines did their painfully slow thing.
Some Old Bill like cars too, at that time of the morning I'm not surprised that they were interested.
Some Old Bill like cars too, at that time of the morning I'm not surprised that they were interested.
As soon as I got in the car to start my journey I had a feeling I would get pulled thinking it was a stolen car.
I just wondered why they followed me for ages and what actually happens whilst they follow you.
The only reason I pulled over was because I was being distracted by their presence and didn't feel comfortable to carry on safely. Thought I was doing the right thing.
Should say: massively appreciate they took the time to follow me in my little Golf. Makes me think that if it was to be stolen it wouldn't go ignored if seen on the streets.
I just wondered why they followed me for ages and what actually happens whilst they follow you.
The only reason I pulled over was because I was being distracted by their presence and didn't feel comfortable to carry on safely. Thought I was doing the right thing.
Should say: massively appreciate they took the time to follow me in my little Golf. Makes me think that if it was to be stolen it wouldn't go ignored if seen on the streets.
ashleyman said:
As soon as I got in the car to start my journey I had a feeling I would get pulled thinking it was a stolen car.
I just wondered why they followed me for ages and what actually happens whilst they follow you.
The only reason I pulled over was because I was being distracted by their presence and didn't feel comfortable to carry on safely. Thought I was doing the right thing.
Should say: massively appreciate they took the time to follow me in my little Golf. Makes me think that if it was to be stolen it wouldn't go ignored if seen on the streets.
Chances are they were waiting for you to go home! That way they can check the address they've just retrieved by the registration against the one you stop at. You probably lengthened it by going around in a big circle.I just wondered why they followed me for ages and what actually happens whilst they follow you.
The only reason I pulled over was because I was being distracted by their presence and didn't feel comfortable to carry on safely. Thought I was doing the right thing.
Should say: massively appreciate they took the time to follow me in my little Golf. Makes me think that if it was to be stolen it wouldn't go ignored if seen on the streets.
As also hinted at above, they're also on the prowl for drink-drivers at that time. I've been stopped more than once in the past because I was driving with the window down at that time on the way home from work.
Xaero said:
Vaud said:
benjijames28 said:
The golf r is the career criminal / scumbag lease car of choice at the moment.
It was 2am
Do the maths.
This.It was 2am
Do the maths.
Quite reassuring actually for you to continue your Golf R ownership. A few have abandoned ownership due to the idea of having their house broken in and keys stolen.
Good luck to them trying to steal it. If they manage to get it then they can have it. I'll just get another one.
That's why the police have no time to do anything else. They are chasing around checking the thousands and thousands of leased Golf R's.
OP. You should have stopped, let them get close, then pulled forward a bit. Then stopped, let them get close, then pulled forward a bit again. See how long you could do that.
OP. You should have stopped, let them get close, then pulled forward a bit. Then stopped, let them get close, then pulled forward a bit again. See how long you could do that.
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