This is NOT a police van

[4hero]

I'm just back from the Bathgate Highland Games, West Lothian, Scotland, and an interesting day it was too.

30 seconds after I took this shot I was stopped by two police officers.



Mr. Copper: who are you
Me: Neil
Copper: why are you taking photos of the police van (just of the left of this shot)
Me: I was taking a shot of the Dinky Donuts van
Copper: can I have your details anyway
Me: Why do you need my details, I'm in a public place?
Copper: well, it's been reported that someone has been taking photos of the police and army
Me: Is that illegal in a public place?
Copper: no, but what with terrorism and all that (the usual crap) I'd just like to check your details
Me: Is terrorism not just an excuse to stop me? Seems a bit lame when we are in a Highland Show (picture this, men in kilts tossing cabers, men with bagpipes, people eating candy floss)...
Copper: No, but I'd just like to check your details anyway
Me: reluctantly passes over details

The girl taking my details was mighty fine about the whole thing, where the guy (should have got his badge number) was a total knobend.

Why the fk do we have to go through this crap just because I carry 2 camera's with big lenses.

Edited by 4hero on Saturday 31st May 17:35

[MartinP]

Maybe its a disguised speed camera van!

It really is unbelievable that the police would stop someone at a public event for taking photos. And as if a terrorist would be so unsubtle as to walk around with a great big SLR just to take a picture of a police van.

[Andy M]

A few links for you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfQrDK9YHas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKl2sEN4yNM

http://www.flickr.com/photos/photodrift/2422740769...

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_an...

[odyssey2200]

[gernam accent]

show me your papers!

[/german accent]

facist state, anyone?

I wonder what would have happened if you had refused to give you details?

Rendition followed by waterboarding?

[Olivero]

10 mini donuts for one pound fifty.
Mmmm nice, think I might be in the wrong country.

Oh, and shocking, short sighted attitude.
Fuzz - Are you a terrorist?
OP - No.
Fuzz - Are you sure?
OP - Yes.
Fuzz - But you would tell us if you were a terrorist wouldn´t you?
OP - Oh, yes...

[Balmoral Green]

They either didn't want anyone to see the conveyor belt going straight into the van, or it was your Yasser Arafat neckerchief.

[MonkeyHanger]

4hero said:

Copper: No, but I'd just like to check your details anyway
Me: reluctantly passes over details

I commend you for your patience, because at that point i'd probably have been arrested after telling him to go and f*** himself.

There was absoloutely no reason to check your details. No doubt the usual suspects will now appear from SP&L to defend this clown.

[GetCarter]

Andy M said:

A few links for you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfQrDK9YHas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKl2sEN4yNM

http://www.flickr.com/photos/photodrift/2422740769...

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_an...

Ta for that. I'm off to annoy some 'people with authority'.

[Spooks]

Hey mate, fancy speaking over here, I have to say that is totally cack and a pretty typical attitude of Lothian and borders finest.
Thankfully never had tp explain myself to police yet but I fully expect it to happen.

[Andy M]

GetCarter said:

Ta for that. I'm off to annoy some 'people with authority'.

Just so long as you don't do it in The US... http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=104763

[4hero]

oops, just back from a few beers with a few mates, hic

I was pretty reluctant to pass over my details and was really tempted just to walk off, but for what? I just wish I had got his badge number

[Funk]

This is what happens when a Government instills a mindset of terror, paranoia and fear in the general populace.

It's the same with those who've had their cars vandalised for no reason by 'eco-idiots' - just because it's a 4x4 or a sports car.

It's thoroughly depressing. This country is now a shadow of its' former self.

[stigmundfreud]

I am DISGUSTED by this, disgusted that is that you capitulated!

[4hero]

should I have walked away and risked being charged for some made up offence?
should I have walked away and risked a criminal record?
should I have walked away and gave myself extra grief (which, to be honest, I really can't be arsed with right now)?

what would you have done stigmundfreud?

[Funk]

4hero said:

should I have walked away and risked being charged for some made up offence?
should I have walked away and risked a criminal record?
should I have walked away and gave myself extra grief (which, to be honest, I really can't be arsed with right now)?

what would you have done stigmundfreud?

I know it's easy to say what we'd do without actually being there, but I like to think I'd have refused on the grounds that I was doing nothing wrong and therefore they had no cause to stop and search me.

This isn't Nazi Germany. Well, not yet, anyway.

[stigmundfreud]

Stood my ground, insisted he spoke to his desk sergant and ask for clarification under PACE about the restrictions on photoraphy in public places. Then pointed out that unless he has a genuine suspicion that you are a terrorist (in which case you would have been arrested) that he had best drop it.

The only thing that does surprise me about this is the fact this wasn't a PCSO. REmember you know you were doing nothing wrong, you also know he has absolutely no right to demand details for no reason and further more is not permitted to take your kit without good reason. I'm guessing you fit zero profile for a terrorist? I'd have offered to simply show some of the photos and that would have been it. If he wanetd my details I'd have insited he arrested me in order to obtain them - something he wouldnt do on a whim knowing the paperwork and teh world of st that would await him should he have done so.

TBH as mentioned above I doubt I'd have been able to walk away without being arrested for telling him to fk off

[4hero]

Thinking about it tonight, I should really have just walked away, but could I have not been charged for breach of the peace or something? I am an upstanding citizen, with a clean record for all my life. Law is not my forte.

[stigmundfreud]

4hero said:

Thinking about it tonight, I should really have just walked away, but could I have not been charged for breach of the peace or something? I am an upstanding citizen, with a clean record for all my life. Law is not my forte.

no you couldnt, there would be absolutel nothing the officer could do unless he had a genuine suspicion you were either a terrorist or had broken a law. Of course he could have been a cock and nicked you but stand your ground and the would back down. Asking him to confirm PACE would be enough to shut him up if he had sense, problem is, whats the chance of someone backing down on an authority mistake with the risk of losing face to public and colleague?

[4hero]

I must look into this for future, after reading so much of photographing in public I should have been more prepared. I will brush up on this st and be prepared for next time (there will be a next time).

[stigmundfreud]

4hero said:

I must look into this for future, after reading so much of photographing in public I should have been more prepared. I will brush up on this st and be prepared for next time (there will be a next time).

thing is this they know even if they are in the wrong there is little you can do but a complaint and aletter to local MP would bring a world of st on their doorstep.