stopping for non uniformed police
Discussion
Hi haven't posted for ages, (cars running well)
I'm a Brit in the US. It was my understanding that we only stopped for uniformed police. That's with regard to motoring. I assumed the same was true when not in a car.
I know the situation is "sort of different" at present.
This is of course with respect to the unfortunate shooting of the Brazilian at Stockwell but I really don't want to start a mamoth thread, just a clarification.
Thanks
I'm a Brit in the US. It was my understanding that we only stopped for uniformed police. That's with regard to motoring. I assumed the same was true when not in a car.
I know the situation is "sort of different" at present.
This is of course with respect to the unfortunate shooting of the Brazilian at Stockwell but I really don't want to start a mamoth thread, just a clarification.
Thanks
Personally if you pointed a gun at me in this country in the middle of the street in London and said “Armed police, stop or I’ll shoot!” I’d stop, then worry about the legality of your actions later.
To put it another way – if you were a ‘bad guy’ you might kill me/ shoot me if I didn’t leg it, and would almost certainly do so if I did leg it. There’s a chance I’d survive if I stood still, otherwise you’d already have shot me without warning.
If you were an uninformed police officer you and your back up will cream me before you can say “Mind the Gap” if I started to leg it.
To put it another way – if you were a ‘bad guy’ you might kill me/ shoot me if I didn’t leg it, and would almost certainly do so if I did leg it. There’s a chance I’d survive if I stood still, otherwise you’d already have shot me without warning.
If you were an uninformed police officer you and your back up will cream me before you can say “Mind the Gap” if I started to leg it.
Tricky one, actually. I once heard of a case where a rapist had a fake ID and blue light and was pulling over lone female motorists at night and then attacking them. The assumption being that even if he was in plain clothes then they still had to stop.
I suppose the only way to be really sure is to ask for an ID number and then contact their station to check it but clearly this isn't always practical, as in the case of the Brazilian terrorist suspect.
No easy solution.
I suppose the only way to be really sure is to ask for an ID number and then contact their station to check it but clearly this isn't always practical, as in the case of the Brazilian terrorist suspect.
No easy solution.
The Brazilian bloke was dense.
He ran because his visa was out of date. Like they send armed plain clothed officers for work visa problems...
Someone points a gun at me, tells me their police, I stop.
Only 2 options, they are police and I'll be fine (*providing I havnt just robbed a bank or have a backpack full of explosives) OR their NOT armed police , just nutters - and the outcome may not be plesant whatever I do.
He ran because his visa was out of date. Like they send armed plain clothed officers for work visa problems...
Someone points a gun at me, tells me their police, I stop.
Only 2 options, they are police and I'll be fine (*providing I havnt just robbed a bank or have a backpack full of explosives) OR their NOT armed police , just nutters - and the outcome may not be plesant whatever I do.
Your local mugger with a replica can now get you to stop more easily. Once stopped you are likely to stay that way.
Assuming you aren't Brazilian/suicide bomber lookalike then what's wrong with legging it. A dimly lit ID is not really good enough...and if you are running without a weapon then the fuzz shouldn't be shooting.
brave words masterdave
Assuming you aren't Brazilian/suicide bomber lookalike then what's wrong with legging it. A dimly lit ID is not really good enough...and if you are running without a weapon then the fuzz shouldn't be shooting.
brave words masterdave
What if the guy had been carrying a bomb, and the police hadn't shot him as he ran onto the train. We'd have another carriage full of dead people. If some blokes are chasing you with guns the sensible thing to do is stop, police or otherwise. The chances of survival are somewhat higher.
silversun said:
Tricky one, actually. I once heard of a case where a rapist had a fake ID and blue light and was pulling over lone female motorists at night and then attacking them. The assumption being that even if he was in plain clothes then they still had to stop.
I suppose the only way to be really sure is to ask for an ID number and then contact their station to check it but clearly this isn't always practical, as in the case of the Brazilian terrorist suspect.
No easy solution.
In the case of the fake blue light, you could always go to the nearest police station but with a gun, you don't have that choice, completely different situations.
Thanks for the replies, I was hoping for a definitive answer re non uniformed police officers.
It seems he ran from non uniformed police who were following him. If they suspected him of being a bomber would they identify themselves before they try to apprehend him. (and warn him they are police)
He could have thought he was running from a group of BNP as he was olive skinned.
All the eye witness reports said he was being chased by plain clothed police officers! Wise after the fact?
Or was that they shouted this out to the passengers after they caught him. When his fate was already decided.
It seems he ran from non uniformed police who were following him. If they suspected him of being a bomber would they identify themselves before they try to apprehend him. (and warn him they are police)
He could have thought he was running from a group of BNP as he was olive skinned.
All the eye witness reports said he was being chased by plain clothed police officers! Wise after the fact?
Or was that they shouted this out to the passengers after they caught him. When his fate was already decided.
With regards to stopping for non uniformed police.
Non motoring wise you do not have to be in uniform to stop a person. We just have to identify ourselfs as police, this can be verbally and a production of a warrant card.
With regards to motoring only a constable in uniform can stop a car. Unmarked cars can of course stop other vehicles but the officer must be readily identifiable as a police officer ie in uniform or something that would make the general public believe they were police.
Gareth
Non motoring wise you do not have to be in uniform to stop a person. We just have to identify ourselfs as police, this can be verbally and a production of a warrant card.
With regards to motoring only a constable in uniform can stop a car. Unmarked cars can of course stop other vehicles but the officer must be readily identifiable as a police officer ie in uniform or something that would make the general public believe they were police.
Gareth
robdickinson said:
The Brazilian bloke was dense.
He ran because his visa was out of date. Like they send armed plain clothed officers for work visa problems...
Someone points a gun at me, tells me their police, I stop.
Your comments are callous in the extreme.
Whatever the rights or wrongs of this very sad case, a innocent man has lost his life & a family are grieving.
Sure, common sense says stop when someone is pointing a gun at you, but neither you nor I, nor perhaps anyone else for that matter, really knows the circumstances. It's possible he didn't speak/understand English & suddenly someone's pointing a gun at him for reasons he doesn't understand. Panic sets in & he runs.
When your Mother/Father/Sister/Brother/Daughter/Son are dealt with in similar circumstances (God forbid), then maybe, just maybe, you'll think before engaging mouth.
>> Edited by 55jnj on Monday 25th July 18:15
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