Good policing or just invasive?

Gavin83

I've had dealings with the police and had both lovely officers and some with a real attitude. I guess like any job you get good and bad examples and to be fair anyone can have a bad day.

Just from your description alone it sounded like they were being reasonable though. There's nothing wrong in being asked to exit the vehicle and after a few checks they let you on their way. They may have been a bit off with you but what do you expect when responding in such a manner?

Let it go.

Stoke

I love it when polar opposites collide. I find that it really does depend which police you come across. I've met some who are very unpleasant and clearly have a superiority complex, yet others are simply looking out for you and others on the road.

I always believe that polite vigilantism is the best way of dealing with the police. If he asks you for your license say "sure officer". Chat an informally friendly attitude, don't be formally friendly ("yes sir, no sir"), that only feeds them if they have a superiority complex. Regarding polite vigilantism, I'm talking about of course if they ask to search your vehicle. You say "Sorry officer, but I don't consent to searches without a warrant". Police cannot search your car without a warrant, when they do, it's usually because the driver consents to the search. If they ask you to get out of the car, get out, the worst thing you can do is be petty. However there's one really useful line you can use, if the officer is asking you stupid questions say "sorry officer, am I being detained, or am I free to go" that reiterates to the officer that you haven't got out of your car because you want to, it's because you've been told to, and you've done it under instruction.

Captain_Flack.

londonTiger wrote: »

Had a tiring 3 hr roud trip in London, picking something up from a client.

Parked on my road and took the satnav off from the dash. Have some trouble turning on the reading light, it flickers a bit (needed the light so I can unplug the satnav charger and put it in the glove compartment).

Suddenly two police jumps out of a van that was in traffic. One knock on my window and asks me what was I dismounting from the vehicle.. I'm in a bit of a shock, thinking did I jump a red light? do they think I have some police scanner in the car? etc. I reply "what you mean my satnav?" I pull out the satnav and show it to the police officer.

He then asks me why I'm nervous. I reply I'm not nervous. Then he asks me to step outside of the vehicle.

I don't like being told what to do, he can see my car keys in the barrell, he could ask to see my license while I'm sat inside the vehicle. I muttrer "flipping heck" as I walk out of the vehicle. Police starts shouting at me "I don't like your attitude". I'm seething. So the exchange is really foggy and I can't remember much of what happened next.

I showed them my license and everything checked out and they drove off. I really didn't like the way the police jumped into my face assuming I'm a crook trying to steal a satnav and also don't like how I've been effectively dragged out of my vehicle to show my ID.

What do you think? Good policing or invasive?

Were you dragged or asked?

No point in complaining if you can't get your story and it is a story straight.;)

Ultrasonic

Stoke wrote: »

Police cannot search your car without a warrant...

Are you able to supply any evidence to support that claim? I strongly suspect it is nonsense. Isn't it more a question of them requiring 'just cause'? e.g. a police officer can smell cannabis so they have just cause to search the car and its occupants for drugs.

ado

Ultrasonic wrote: »

Are you able to supply any evidence to support that claim? I strongly suspect it is nonsense. Isn't it more a question of them requiring 'just cause'? e.g. a police officer can smell cannabis so they have just cause to search the car and its occupants for drugs.

C o r r e c t.

maninthestreet

paddedjohn wrote: »

Personally I would have thanked them for stopping to check that my car wasn't being robbed.

I person is robbed, a car is stolen...

owen_money

Did you call them 'Plebs'? They don't like that, apparently, though tba it doesn't really matter if you said it or not they might well say you had, allegedly.

DKLS

ilikethesimpsons wrote: »

You failed the attitude test.

This +1 Op got what he deserved.

SLITHER99

The last time I was pulled over by the police, I have to say I was less than impressed with their accusatory attitude. Maybe I have a major attitude problem too, it seems to be the instant insinuation by anyone who has not had the pleasure of this sort of experience. By all means, feel free to write me off as a troublemaker if you wish. But I did feel the officers involved were invasive and almost "wanted to find something".

As I'm still giving thought to making a police complaint I don't want to give a lot of detail. Suffice it to say, the officer claimed he saw me in possession of something I shouldn't have had while driving. He searched the car looking for that thing and didn't find it - largely because said "thing" didn't exist in the first place. He then got rather shirty with me and tried in various ways to twist what I was saying to him - in a very courteous manner too - into something it wasn't.

Given this and a previous incident some 8 years ago, the police in this country have given me very little grounds to place any sort of trust in them. It's a shame really as before I was very much of the opinion of respecting them for doing a job and being wholesome people. Now, my opinion is different.

goonarmy

londonTiger wrote: »

Had a tiring 3 hr roud trip in London, picking something up from a client.

Parked on my road and took the satnav off from the dash. Have some trouble turning on the reading light, it flickers a bit (needed the light so I can unplug the satnav charger and put it in the glove compartment).

Suddenly two police jumps out of a van that was in traffic. One knock on my window and asks me what was I dismounting from the vehicle.. I'm in a bit of a shock, thinking did I jump a red light? do they think I have some police scanner in the car? etc. I reply "what you mean my satnav?" I pull out the satnav and show it to the police officer.

He then asks me why I'm nervous. I reply I'm not nervous. Then he asks me to step outside of the vehicle.

I don't like being told what to do, he can see my car keys in the barrell, he could ask to see my license while I'm sat inside the vehicle. I muttrer "flipping heck" as I walk out of the vehicle. Police starts shouting at me "I don't like your attitude". I'm seething. So the exchange is really foggy and I can't remember much of what happened next.

I showed them my license and everything checked out and they drove off. I really didn't like the way the police jumped into my face assuming I'm a crook trying to steal a satnav and also don't like how I've been effectively dragged out of my vehicle to show my ID.

What do you think? Good policing or invasive?

What van was it? Riot van? Im guessing Tsg or whatever they call them selves now. Ive seen a lot worse of them.