let''s support the powers that be?

for your edification

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/officers-claim-they-dont-need-law-to-...


http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/jun/28/press-freedom-police-marc-vallee

Trying to find a silver lining to this dark cloud, I have to say that the 16 year-old deserves full marks for standing up for himself.

If enough people continue to stand up for themselves in the face of this tyranny, there is hope for us all.

But what on earth do the police think they are doing? Talk about scoring own goals.

G

PS: Thanks for posting these links.

Here we go again

I really feel very sorry for you, guys. When the people who are sworn to uphold the law act against the very same law they are supposed to uphold shows that democracy in England is just a joke.

I hope your new Prime Minister will have enough brain (hard to believe from a politician:shock to do something about that.

The officers in that recording embody everything that is wrong with the modern police force. Obnoxious jobsworths who revel in the power they have, seemingly inventing the rules as they go along.

Scum.

He wants to abolish the Human Rights Act (the only substantive protection against abuse like this). I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you.

We'll all be moving to Canada, the Queen says its home and that's good enough for me. The only problem is we'll all have convictions for street photography and resisting arrest so getting visas might be a problem.

George you're right the 16 year old merits praise for standing up for his rights. I'm not sure I'd do as well in the face of such hostility.

Having seen quite a few of these events on the internet over the last few months, I note a repeating theme.
That is, in nearly all cases, the police, unable to make anything substantive out of their unlawful stop, then hit the person with a public order offence in order to get the arrest. Even when they know they don't have a leg to stand on, they'll use the PO offence as a catch-all reason to cart you off. Even if the charge is subsequently dropped, you are bundled off to a police station and processed, kept in a cell for several hours before being released. This is unacceptable and officers seen doing this should be sacked immediately.
The badge and uniform they wear does NOT command respect, that has to be earned. It does NOT make them above the law and it does NOT allow them to interpret or bend laws to suit themselves.

The one good thing to come out of the recent budget is the fact that over the next few years there will probably be less Police Officers on the street. Thank the Lord.

Davex.

We have the same problem in Scotland - except it's arguably worse because it isn't a statutory offence (with, in theory, statutory safeguards), but the common law offence of 'breach of the peace'. Its definition is so wide that there is a section of academia arguing that it needs to be abolished on human rights grounds (ie the criminal law must be clear as to what is and is not criminal conduct).

It's so sad really. I used to respect the police and, working in the security industry, used to work closely with a lot of them and knew most of the local officers. Unfortunately, over the last decade or so, many left in disgust at the way policing was going and the lack of support from politicised senior level officers.
The days where community officers, using common sense and discretion, and earning the support and respect of the community along the way are long gone. Now it's all about targets and outright bullying and, to be honest, the level of investigative prowess and simple common sense I have seen displayed by police officers - first hand - the last few years is dismaying and makes me wonder how they ever passed an exam!

The police force has always contained thugs. Look at the 1980s. It's a profession that attracts a certain type of individual. But they have to deal with an increasingly thuggish society, and one which is very conscious of it's 'rights'. Not this lad though, he has been the innocent victim of an unprofessional, stupid and aggressive individual. Any police officer making such a spurious use of the terrorism legislation deserves no less than the sack.

Not just us finding this a stupid show of force it seems

link

FYI folks

Met's own guide
http://www.met.police.uk/about/photography.htm
"Members of the public and the media do not need a permit to film or photograph in public places and police have no power to stop them filming or photographing incidents or police personnel."

Not a national policy but if works for the Met, Devon and Cornwall are going to find it hard to refute.

BJP I am not a terrorist , bust card: print it and carry it.
http://photographernotaterrorist.org/bust-card/
from
http://photographernotaterrorist.org/

UK Photography law: another print and carry
http://www.sirimo.co.uk/2009/05/14/uk-photographers-rights-v2/

Urban75( don't know what it is but have good section, wiki info seems harmless)
http://www.urban75.org/photos/photographers-rights-and-the-law.html

I think it is worth noting the "press" have greater protection than the public. You do not gain all rights just because you have a camera.

...although the police have a long history of threatening behaviour towards the press via the abuse of rules (both real and invented), going back as long as both have been around... nothing unique to the UK about this, of course - and at least it tends to stop at having your cameras smashed and film destroyed, other countries have more direct ways of dealing with reporters and photographers who go where they aren't welcome...

Anyway, back to the OP - well done to the kid for standing-up for himself, it shows there can be a useful side to a stroppy teenager sometimes!