Enthusiasts vs. Armed Police

[Coxster]

My grandad spotted this in the paper:-

GUN cops swooped on a gang lurking near Gordon Brown’s home – and were chuffed to find they were only steam train buffs.

The spotters, perched on a hillside, were stunned when six rifle-toting officers pounced. Half a dozen enthusiasts had waited two hours for the 1938 loco The Great Marquess to pass over the Forth Bridge in Fife, Scotland. They did not realise their vantage point in thick gorse also overlooks the PM’s constituency home in North Queensferry. The cops told them they were seen pointing long lenses at Mr Brown’s garden. The spotters showed their club member-ship cards but were shadowed until the train steamed by on an outing. Spotter Brian Sharpe, of Horncastle, Lincs, said: “The boys persuaded the police they were harmless anoraks, not terrorists.” Mr Brown was not at home at the time. Downing Street refused to comment on security measures.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1193279.ece

 

[me123]

I already saw the article. They're not the first trainspotters or any type of spotters to be treated suspiciously. To be fair, people recording data and taking photos in high-security environments will always be treated suspiciously in this modern world.

At least the police understood that they posed no security threat to Mr. B. I'm sure everyone remembers the planespotters in Greece who were arrested and tried IIRC as suspected terrorists. It's sad that the police felt the need to become involved, though. It just shows how paraniod society has become.

 

[Respite]

Tuh LNER people, should of shot them first ask questions later.

As for the PM having a house near one of the best known landmarks in the country...........Hmmm no one would take pictures around there then..:roll:

 

[Metroland]

Tuh LNER people, should of shot them first ask questions later.

I beg your pardon Mr Ghostcav!?

I do so love politicians justifying all these extra rules and regulations because a small number of people got killed in very unfortunate circumstances, probably because of their own policies.

While all very sad, the reaction that brings in this nonsense is non commensurate with the risk posed, and is very similar to the attitude that has brought the railways to the point of bankruptcy through draconian rules and regulations straight from the pages of Tainter's collapse of complex societies.

 

[Respite]

I beg your pardon Mr Ghostcav!?

Well, LNER hmmm.

My bestman at My forthcoming wedding is a donny born A4/deltic loving numpty signalman. See I can accept the undesirable people in life, the people that aspire to be GWR & LM but fail...............:grin:


Did I ever point out that I am hardly ever really serious, unless you mention VWC!

 

[djw1981]

Other media sources suggest that the Police turned up checked what they were doing then left - hardly 'swooping' or even unreasonable behaviour. as Brown upsets more and more people, the Police guarding him must get more and more stressed.

 

[Metroland]

And that's just from members of his own party, when, in the next few minutes, the results of the Crewe by-election come in.

 

[Craig]

Other media sources suggest that the Police turned up checked what they were doing then left

That wouldn't have made for such a sensationalist story for the sun though.

 

[P156KWJ]

Tuh LNER people, should of shot them first ask questions later.

As for the PM having a house near one of the best known landmarks in the country...........Hmmm no one would take pictures around there then..:roll:

how dare you? I work for the LNER (GC) heritage trust

 

[Respite]

how dare you? I work for the LNER (GC) heritage trust

See I was right!!
:grin::grin:

 

[Kneedown]

I'm sure everyone remembers the planespotters in Greece who were arrested and tried IIRC as suspected terrorists. It's sad that the police felt the need to become involved, though. It just shows how paraniod society has become.

What the papers didn't report was that those planespotters in Greece had already been warned away from that area several times. Warnings they ignored to their discomfort.