Man arrested for using plug socket on Overground train

[Minilad]

That's basically my point too. I'm not excusing him or his stupid hair. I get incredibly annoyed by people who ignore social rules, especially when they have stupid hair.

I just find it amazing that the PCSO had nothing better to do with her time. This is the equivalent of having someone arrested because their bag was on a seat.

Sounds like people who get caught speeding and tell the copper why don't you go and catch some proper criminals. Conveniently forgetting they have just broken the law

 

[AM9]

So if it's unprotected, it's supposedly fair game. Makes me wonder how far these people would stretch that logic. Naturally, I can think of a few examples (and these people appear every now and then in the Disputes section of this very forum).

But it was protected by a clear notice, just like seats on trains are protected from feet by clear notices, and the doors are protected by signs saying that passengers should not obstruct them etc.. If those other examples were ignored (as they frequently are) would we say that there's no physical prevention of feet on seats, or bars that move to physically keep the doorways clear then ignoring the notices is 'fair game'?

 

[DaleCooper]

Those who are defending the idiot should be put in a crowded carriage with a phone charger that bursts into flames due to a surge. They'd be screaming for more PCSOs on trains and the death sentence for the owner of the charger.

 

[Llanigraham]

As any parent of a toddler will tell you, pick your battles.

The sheer amount of time wasted for her and four proper coppers to arrest him, de-arrest him, arrest him again and then do the mountain of paperwork is staggering for something that will have cost TfL less than 5p. You're probably looking at £200 in man hours alone, for the equivalent of someone's headphones being a bit too loud.

As I said, I genuinely believe it shows a serious lack of professional judgment. And if it was done because the man with the stupid hair was rude to her, that makes it even worse IMHO.

Mr Troll,
You still don't get it, do you?
You do not know what the PCSO said to this "gentleman" or the reply he gave to her, and until we know that everything is conjecture.
I suspect he was impolite, rude or argumentative instead of just agreeing to do what was requested.

 

[meridian2]

Mr Troll,
You still don't get it, do you?
You do not know what the PCSO said to this "gentleman" or the reply he gave to her, and until we know that everything is conjecture.
I suspect he was impolite, rude or argumentative instead of just agreeing to do what was requested.

With the greatest of respect, neither do you, yet you're still prepared to shoot people down on a basis you seem unwilling to disclose.

Were you there?

 

[jon0844]

I suspect he was impolite, rude or argumentative instead of just agreeing to do what was requested.

If he's the same person on the Sky One TV programme, then it's pretty clear that he will have been rude, sarcastic and condescending. I wonder if the fact it was a female played a part in him trying to act all big too?

 

[Geezertronic]

With the greatest of respect, neither do you, yet you're still prepared to shoot people down on a basis you seem unwilling to disclose.

Were you there?

I heard the idiot on Radio 2 and on another radio station whose name escapes me. His attitude stunk and I'll shoot the moron down based on the "I'll do what I like when I like" attitude he himself showed by his own comments. Suffice to say if he acted like that with the PCSOs then it's no wonder things escalated.

 

[Llanigraham]

With the greatest of respect, neither do you, yet you're still prepared to shoot people down on a basis you seem unwilling to disclose.

Were you there?

Again, you haven't read what I actually wrote, only what you think I wrote!
I suggest you read it again.

 

[NSEFAN]

So if it's unprotected, it's supposedly fair game.

It was indeed fair game. As was the chap's phone for plugging it into the unregulated socket.

 

[Flamingo]

With the greatest of respect, neither do you, yet you're still prepared to shoot people down on a basis you seem unwilling to disclose.

Were you there?

Well, if he was polite and co-operative, where did the Section 5 come from? From first-hand experience, it is bloody difficult to get BTP to arrest somebody. I'm sure when it all comes to court, it'll be worth attending.

I'll bring the banged maize...

 

[meridian2]

I'm with Arctic Troll here; it comes over as a lack of professional judgment mixed with heavy-handidness. Still, so long as we weren't there, so long as our opinions are meaningless, nothing's going to change. Very sad considering I was defending the police's seeming lack of accountability on another thread.

And I'm not going to be drawn into arguments saying I'm excusing this prat by those who can't make the distinction.

:roll:

 

[Flamingo]

I'm with Arctic Troll here; it comes over as a lack of professional judgment mixed with heavy-handidness. Still, so long as we weren't there, so long as our opinions are meaningless, nothing's going to change.

And I'm not going to be drawn into arguments saying I'm excusing this prat by those who can't make the distinction.

:roll:

You say it comes over as lack of professional judgement by the Police. Lots of other people say it comes over as arrogance and ignorance by the person who was arrested.

We'll see if it goes to court, or if compensation gets paid...

 

[Geezertronic]

As we have seen, this guy has form before. I just can't believe he made it onto the Jeremy Vine show on Radio 2 as a studio guest. It must have been a very very slow news day and if it proves one thing, it proves why I like Tim more than Jeremy

 

[jon0844]

If he treats anyone else like he does people in a position of authority, I wonder how long until he gets a big smack in the mouth.

I wonder if he'd call the cops then?

 

[Flamingo]

If he treats anyone else like he does people in a position of authority, I wonder how long until he gets a big smack in the mouth.

I wonder if he'd call the cops then?

Google is your friend...

 

[Geezertronic]

Google is your friend...

That is really ironic don't you think - I'd say hilarious if it wasn't so serious. I did chuckle where it said "artists impression" though

 

[Flamingo]

I found it yesterday - anybody making a pain in the ARRSE of themselves like that invariably have a history...

 

[JohnB57]

The sheer amount of time wasted for her and four proper coppers to arrest him, de-arrest him, arrest him again and then do the mountain of paperwork is staggering for something that will have cost TfL less than 5p.

I don't want to labour the point, but the cost is nowhere near 5p, it's at most 0.05p or one twentieth of a penny. And that's to charge a phone from fully flat to fully charged. That's what the PCSO was arresting him for.

He's an idiot, no doubt. But resources have been wasted for effectively nothing.

 

[455driver]

I don't want to labour the point, but the cost is nowhere near 5p, it's at most 0.05p or one twentieth of a penny. And that's to charge a phone from fully flat to fully charged. That's what the PCSO was arresting him for.

He's an idiot, no doubt. But resources have been wasted for effectively nothing.

So what should the PCSO have done when he refused to remove his charger after being asked to?

 

[transmanche]

I don't want to labour the point, but the cost is nowhere near 5p, it's at most 0.05p or one twentieth of a penny. And that's to charge a phone from fully flat to fully charged. That's what the PCSO was arresting him for.

I can't believe that people are still banging on about the amount of electricity used. Clearly this whole issue has nothing to do with him actually stealing electricity, that was just a device used to get him off the train. It's all to do with him causing an obstruction and/or trip hazard and not unplugging his phone when requested.

So please can we stop talking about the electricity theft!

 

[grumblingalong]

I don't want to labour the point, but the cost is nowhere near 5p, it's at most 0.05p or one twentieth of a penny. And that's to charge a phone from fully flat to fully charged. That's what the PCSO was arresting him for.

He's an idiot, no doubt. But resources have been wasted for effectively nothing.

You might want to research the powers held by PCSO's.

 

[JohnB57]

Im only talking about it because it was the PCSO's principle reason to arrest him - "abstraction of electricity". I'm merely trying to dismiss the cost of the power as a possible reason to have arrested him. I fully agree that the prat should be bang to rights but the cost of the electricity is not a good reason to have done so. Being a prat should be reason enough...

 

[transmanche]

Being a prat should be reason enough...

'Bring a prat' isn't an arrestable offence, 'abstraction of electricity' is. Police often arrest people for one offence and end up charging them with something else. It's really not unusual.

 

[JohnB57]

You might want to research the powers held by PCSO's.

No thanks. Life's too short.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

'Bring a prat' isn't an arrestable offence, 'abstraction of electricity' is. Police often arrest people for one offence and end up charging them with something else. It's really not unusual.

Hmmm. I said "should" with my tongue in my cheek. Which is no defence on this forum of course.

 

[EM2]

You might want to research the powers held by PCSO's.

Are you suggesting that PCSOs do not have the power of arrest?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_of_arrest#United_Kingdom

Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs)

• Common law
• s24A Police Criminal Evidence Act 1984
• Power to detain under Police Reform Act 2002

 

[455driver]

JohnB57, can you answer this question please!

So what should the PCSO have done when he refused to remove his charger after being asked to?

 

[Tetchytyke]

That is really ironic don't you think - I'd say hilarious if it wasn't so serious. I did chuckle where it said "artists impression" though

It would certainly explain two things. Why he'd distrust the police and why the rozzers were so determined to Nick him for something as ridiculous as this in the first place.

They really do seem to hate it when people prove themselves to be innocent.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Are you suggesting that PCSOs do not have the power of arrest?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_of_arrest#United_Kingdom

PCSOs are also authorised persons on TfL, so the PSCO had the right to remove him from the train.

To answer 455driver, I'd have pulled his charger out of the socket instead of getting the heavies round to rough him up.

 

[EM2]

PCSOs are also authorised persons on TfL, so the PSCO had the right to remove him from the train.

Indeed, but seeing as the next station was Camden Road, where he wanted to leave anyway, what would that accomplish?

 

[Kingsbury Jn.]

I can't believe that people are still banging on about the amount of electricity used. Clearly this whole issue has nothing to do with him actually stealing electricity, that was just a device used to get him off the train. It's all to do with him causing an obstruction and/or trip hazard and not unplugging his phone when requested.

So please can we stop talking about the electricity theft!

Surely it isn't beyond the realms of technology to enable the sockets to be deactivated during passenger service? It's quite likely that if the charger had exploded and injured our artist friend, he would have tried to claim damages. It has happened with burglars and householders.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Indeed, but seeing as the next station was Camden Road, where he wanted to leave anyway, what would that accomplish?

It would have sorted out the terribly terribly dangerous trip hazard that everyone on here seems so worried about.

Wouldn't have done much for the ego-tripping PCSO though, admittedly.