Jock's Place - The BR Brute Squad - Comments

I perhaps ought to say that

Jock — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 10:44:45 +0000

I perhaps ought to say that I know quite a few current and former Thames Valley officers on first name terms and I have always had respect for them and what they do. So I really hope that this one guy in particular is one of a "few bad aples". But if that was my experience of contact with the police I would feel the same.

It is amazing that we

Stephen — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 09:20:41 +0000

It is amazing that we prevent as many terrorist attacks as we do with utter plonkers like thesde 'protecting' us. I have no doubt that as a law abiding person in 2008, I would consider the police to a significant threat to my well being.

Thanks Mike - I am sure, as

Jock — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 03:52:54 +0000

Thanks Mike - I am sure, as your comment implies, that the "Fourth" is being abused, and that things like the Patriot Act are severely testing its very existence. At least you've got one though, and in theory, a judicial branch that could uphold it. We have neither. Or at least any judge who would would be condemned as an "activist judge" rather than one fulfilling their constitutional role!

4th Amendment

Mike Haubrich, FCD — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 02:52:40 +0000

If you were to have the likes of our 4th Amendment I would only hope that you would put it to better use than we have.

...and I thought all London

Jock — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:42:17 +0000

...and I thought all London policemen eventually moved to Goathland!

That is absolutely

Peter Mc — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:24:34 +0000

That is absolutely astonishing and infuriating. (Glad I live in North Yorkshire where we see a policeman and assume he's lost.)

I'm very glad it was not

Jock — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 18:33:51 +0000

I'm very glad it was not me. It can take hours to verify my address because of perpetual cock-ups and confusion over the electoral roll and my landlord's propensity for changing my address o a whim. I have, however, just in case, taken any ID with an address on for me out of my wallet and will not be carrying them on me any more.

That reminds me - that Fourth Amendment is the thing that's used to stop US officials rummaging through your bin rubbish like the bin spooks in Britain are doing isn't it?

The BR Brute Squad

Jock — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 16:19:13 +0000

...remember when policemen were people you felt you could go up to and ask for directions?

No longer it seems. In fact, if you have anything like a map with you, you could find yourself staying at Belmarsh (warning, watching the whole of this may cause you to damage your computer in anger!):

H/T Tristan

I am so glad Terence was filming this. Everyone should get the chance to see this kind of thing and have a real good think about the "if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear" attitude that is allowing our country to become a fascist state. The ability to stop at random (I was going to say "take to one side", but clearly they're happy to do this in full view of the entire concourse), with no probable cause whatever, and humiliate them in order to show other passengers "look, we're doing something about your security" is utterly obnoxious. I must say, though, I am amazed that he was allowed to continue filming, considering all that has been going on about photography in public places.

Britain, like never before, needs Fourth Amendment rights enshrined in law: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."