Never Off Duty...
Discussion
So, there I am this evening, minding my own business, squirting in some petrol to my own car at the petrol station. A lad pulls up on the other side of the pump, and he stops a bit sharpish.
"Driving like a dick", think I. But hey ho, that's nothing new for lads in hot hatches.
I watch him go into the shop, stick my filler cap back on, and walk in behind him.
I stand behind him waiting to pay, and there's more than a hint of booze in the air...
He's swaying while he pays, and when he turns round, he almost falls over...
I identify myself to him, and the cashiers, as a Police Officer, and take hold of him. I tell him I'm arresting him under the provisions of s4 of the 1988 RTA, as I suspect he has been driving while unfit through drink or drugs. He is not a happy bear. I remind him that he is not going anywhere, and keep hold of him. I tell the staff to call the Police.
A few minutes later, local officers turn up and give the driver a screening test, which he fails - the reading being 46. He is taken away, and put on a substantive device. His result on this is 57, so his breath alcohol is still rising, and consequently, his ability to drive is decreasing.
Knowing how other BiB have been criticised on here for "off duty" collars, should I have left him to it?
Bear in mind I had none of my appointments (cuffs, baton, CS spray, radio), and had no idea how this guy was going to react when I (a) identified myself as a Police officer, and (b) arrested him.
If I was in the same situation again, I’d do the same.
"Driving like a dick", think I. But hey ho, that's nothing new for lads in hot hatches.
I watch him go into the shop, stick my filler cap back on, and walk in behind him.
I stand behind him waiting to pay, and there's more than a hint of booze in the air...
He's swaying while he pays, and when he turns round, he almost falls over...
I identify myself to him, and the cashiers, as a Police Officer, and take hold of him. I tell him I'm arresting him under the provisions of s4 of the 1988 RTA, as I suspect he has been driving while unfit through drink or drugs. He is not a happy bear. I remind him that he is not going anywhere, and keep hold of him. I tell the staff to call the Police.
A few minutes later, local officers turn up and give the driver a screening test, which he fails - the reading being 46. He is taken away, and put on a substantive device. His result on this is 57, so his breath alcohol is still rising, and consequently, his ability to drive is decreasing.
Knowing how other BiB have been criticised on here for "off duty" collars, should I have left him to it?
Bear in mind I had none of my appointments (cuffs, baton, CS spray, radio), and had no idea how this guy was going to react when I (a) identified myself as a Police officer, and (b) arrested him.
If I was in the same situation again, I’d do the same.
Dibble said:
Knowing how other BiB have been criticised on here for "off duty" collars, should I have left him to it?
Bear in mind I had none of my appointments (cuffs, baton, CS spray, radio), and had no idea how this guy was going to react when I (a) identified myself as a Police officer, and (b) arrested him.
If I was in the same situation again, I’d do the same.
Proud of yourself are you?
You bloody well should be!
Dibble said:I've not been around for I while, so I don't know what you are referring to here, but it sounds like sensible and responsible law enforcement to me. Good on yer!
Knowing how other BiB have been criticised on here for "off duty" collars, should I have left him to it?
Of course the cashier in the petrol station would have detained the guy for as long as possible and called the BiB, giving his reg and direction if you hadn't been there.
hyena said:
If they (/we) did, would there be sufficient evidence of the offence? (Very serious question...)
i.e. How would it be proved in court that the particular individual was driving? Would the evidence of a single member of the public + the circumstances be sufficient?
safespeed said:
Anyone who considers himself a good citizen should do the same IMO.
If they (/we) did, would there be sufficient evidence of the offence? (Very serious question...)
i.e. How would it be proved in court that the particular individual was driving? Would the evidence of a single member of the public + the circumstances be sufficient?
It would be the same as any other case - continuity of evidence, witness statements saying witness saw him driving, CCTV from petrol station etc.
Without a Police officer attending and doing the breath test, the job wouldn't get home at Court at all, but the vast majority of drink drivers are reported by MoP. An officer stating they saw the person driving carries no more or less weight than anyone else saying the same thing.
shuvitupya said:
Man, I do hate long posts.
Why not just say....
This guy was doing xxx but should have only been doing yyyy.
So, I kicked the shit out out of him.
He will never do that agan
Maybe that's the difference between analogue and digital.
I do hate analogue
Then skim read them!
t off the roads. 
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