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Heavy Handed Police?
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.I think the heavy handedness was aimed at Derbyshire police being a little over aggressive in their shutting down of picnics. They will still be doing it, but with a bit more of a (in a mockney 1950s spike Milligan type accent) ‘Yooouuuve been a norty boy’ type way rather than going in with the full Hendon instilled sarcasm.
//"It seems here that someone who declined to give police their personal details has been classed as 'potentially infectious' and criminalised as a result.//
'potentially infectious' ....
Could someone be arrested for being a 'potential' burglar because they were out at night?
A 'potential' bank robber because they were (sensibly) wearing a mask while entering a bank?
A 'potential' pedo because he's a man taking a shortcut through a (deserted) kids play area?
Yes, heavy handed policing IMO.
'potentially infectious' ....
Could someone be arrested for being a 'potential' burglar because they were out at night?
A 'potential' bank robber because they were (sensibly) wearing a mask while entering a bank?
A 'potential' pedo because he's a man taking a shortcut through a (deserted) kids play area?
Yes, heavy handed policing IMO.
Nailit, I imagine the police would ask a man why he was masked when entering a bank? And if he refused to give an answer, yes, he might well be in trouble; but you might expect that he would explain unless his reasons were illegal.
Which is what happened here. I don't like it but I think it's acceptable as a short term measure (it had better be dropped the minute the lockdown is at an end, though).
Which is what happened here. I don't like it but I think it's acceptable as a short term measure (it had better be dropped the minute the lockdown is at an end, though).
//Nailit, I imagine the police would ask a man why he was masked when entering a bank?//
In normal circumstances jno, yes. But these arnt normal circumstances are they? A lot of people that Ive seen queuing for banks have been masked...awful lot of 'potential' bank robbers around.
//And if he refused to give an answer, yes, he might well be in trouble//
If he was in a queue, I doubt that he would be waiting to pull a sawn off shotgun.
Same with anyone going about their business. The police need a reasonable suspicion to arrest someone. Refusing to give your details is NOT a reasonable suspicion that you have a virus.
In normal circumstances jno, yes. But these arnt normal circumstances are they? A lot of people that Ive seen queuing for banks have been masked...awful lot of 'potential' bank robbers around.
//And if he refused to give an answer, yes, he might well be in trouble//
If he was in a queue, I doubt that he would be waiting to pull a sawn off shotgun.
Same with anyone going about their business. The police need a reasonable suspicion to arrest someone. Refusing to give your details is NOT a reasonable suspicion that you have a virus.
Might be a reason to suspect a disobedience of the law on not taking non-essential journeys though, in order to avoid spreading infection.
My concern is the lack of clear guidance on what is essential. We have but four examples, of which there must be many. But if interpretation is subjective one can be out legitimately yet be told by police that it's non-essential, and risk fines/a record for being a good citizen.
My concern is the lack of clear guidance on what is essential. We have but four examples, of which there must be many. But if interpretation is subjective one can be out legitimately yet be told by police that it's non-essential, and risk fines/a record for being a good citizen.
That northern bloke who used to work for Channel 4 summed it up in a coupe of sentences on t'radio a few minutes ago.
The very, very British Sergeant Wilson approach to almost everything, towit, "I wonder if you'd mind awfully doing......." whether it be staying at home, making ventilators or well nigh anything else leaving stuff open to interpretation, often by bloody-minded folk who know their rights.
That's why it goes tits-up so often when the sheriff comes to town with his/her limited thought processes.
The very, very British Sergeant Wilson approach to almost everything, towit, "I wonder if you'd mind awfully doing......." whether it be staying at home, making ventilators or well nigh anything else leaving stuff open to interpretation, often by bloody-minded folk who know their rights.
That's why it goes tits-up so often when the sheriff comes to town with his/her limited thought processes.
People are reading this story according to their own agenda:
They were called to deal with this women who was behaving oddly.
She was committing ticket fraud.
She refused to give her details or any explanation and therefore couldn't be dealt with by way of process or a ticket.
Police didn't fine her, the magistrates did.
Had she co-operated she may well have got away with nothing more than a warning or a much cheaper 'ticket'.
They were called to deal with this women who was behaving oddly.
She was committing ticket fraud.
She refused to give her details or any explanation and therefore couldn't be dealt with by way of process or a ticket.
Police didn't fine her, the magistrates did.
Had she co-operated she may well have got away with nothing more than a warning or a much cheaper 'ticket'.