Police checking travel

[VauxhallandI]

If this he’ll ever ends there should be a mass train spotting event organised especially for him

 

[nedchester]

If this he’ll ever ends there should be a mass train spotting event organised especially for him

That has already been proposed for when this is all over. Thursday nights 8pm every week......

 

[bramling]

I can absolutely guarantee that the miserable git who lives outside who is constantly amping on at spotters has finally found a way to stick the knife in and will no doubt be loving it.

Especially with the police walking right into it. They should know not to pander to that sort of nonsense.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

Of course there is, probably pressure from Whitehall.

Ironic that some public figures claim the pandemic is racist.

There’s some irony in standing close together in protest, during a pandemic that disproportionately affects certain ethnicities, shouting Black Lives Matter...

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Jan 2021 ==

That has already been proposed for when this is all over. Thursday nights 8pm every week......

“Spot For Spotters” ?

 

[LowLevel]

Especially with the police walking right into it. They should know not to pander to that sort of nonsense.

I doubt they have any choice. No doubt he would be amping on at their bosses and then the press if they did nothing.

 

[birchesgreen]

Maybe the spotters can carry BLM banners while they are spotting, they should be left alone then.

 

[kristiang85]

How can someone take such an umbridge to train spotters so much that they bother calling the police? It's probably the most harmless pursuit there is.

 

[birchesgreen]

Why not? Its what this country is all about now, nastiness and pettiness from the top down.

 

[trainophile]

If they walk up and down the platform surely that would pass as being exercise.

 

[Bantamzen]

How can someone take such an umbridge to train spotters so much that they bother calling the police? It's probably the most harmless pursuit there is.

Well its an "non-essential" activity, sooooo....

Seriously though, this has to be the ultimate example of NIMBYism. Now that they have mad this happen, I expect their next move will be to have the line closed because it's too close to their house.

 

[trainophile]

It would serve them right if their next door neighbour played in a rock band and practised at home.

 

[PHILIPE]

It appears that Police are taking action on the BLM protests in Cardiff and have fined the organiser and are conducting further enquiries. There seems to have been a public outcry .

www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/mohamud-hassan-protests-fine-cardiff-19634571

A woman has been fined £500 for breaching coronavirus rules after organising protests in Cardiff following the death of Mohamud Hassan.

Police said one woman was reported for summons for breaching Covid-19 regulations by organising an outdoor event, namely protests in Cardiff Bay on Tuesday and Wednesday, at which more than 30 people were in attendance.

A spokesperson for South Wales Police said she now has the opportunity to either pay a £500 fixed penalty notice or request a court hearing.

The force said that inquiries into the protests are continuing and it was expecting to take further action against other individuals for breaching Covid-19 regulations and, or other criminal offences.

The first protest over his death started on Tuesday, January 12, with hundreds of people marching the streets.

Many were angry at the police and said they wanted answers. Further protests took place on Wednesday, January 13 and Thursday, January 14. People are again gathering on the streets this evening, Friday, January 15.

 

[yorkie]

I saw a sign walking along the Thames a few months ago. It was a homemade sign saying “this street is NO LONGER part of the Q14 Cycle route”. People like that relish the chance to get the authorities to act on their otherwise baseless complaints.

I'd rip any such signs down! I have ripped signs down back in the Summer which told people a towpath was for local people only (as @yorksrob could confirm!)

 

[brick60000]

Had my first experience of being stopped by the police today, I was less than impressed.

Me & my partner were walking into Birmingham to get some shopping. Stopped on approach to Victoria Square and were told by an officer that there was an event on today in this area, and that he was therefore directing us to leave. We were told that if we did not, and he saw us again, we would be issued with a FPN under tier 4 legislation. He also said that if we refused to provide details, then that would be an issue. I told him that we were going to a shop. He didnt seem to budge on his stance, and we then discovered that if we asked if we walked a different way there, then he had no issues.

Presumably concerned we were part of the anti-lockdown protests which we later discovered are rumoured for Birmingham today.

I don't personally see how this excuses being stopped and questioned, and told to leave, when I am going about my business. This is a democracy - I should not have to justify what I am doing, nor be threatened with an FPN, for doing absolutely nothing wrong. I also take issue with the fact he already had an issue with me potentially refusing to provide details, when they weren't even necessary....!!

I also take issue with the fact he told me he was telling everybody. I turned around five seconds later to see him let a family group, and several older people walk straight past him. I am in my twenties, so I take issue with being stopped and assumed to be a law-breaker, purely because of my age.

If the police continue to stop people doing absolutely nothing wrong, then they will very rapidly lose any remaining respect from the British public. Why bother complying with the guidance when you get hassled regardless....

 

[bengley]

Had my first experience of being stopped by the police today, I was less than impressed.

Me & my partner were walking into Birmingham to get some shopping. Stopped on approach to Victoria Square and were told by an officer that there was an event on today in this area, and that he was therefore directing us to leave. We were told that if we did not, and he saw us again, we would be issued with a FPN under tier 4 legislation. He also said that if we refused to provide details, then that would be an issue. I told him that we were going to a shop. He didnt seem to budge on his stance, and we then discovered that if we asked if we walked a different way there, then he had no issues.

Presumably concerned we were part of the anti-lockdown protests which we later discovered are rumoured for Birmingham today.

I don't personally see how this excuses being stopped and questioned, and told to leave, when I am going about my business. This is a democracy - I should not have to justify what I am doing, nor be threatened with an FPN, for doing absolutely nothing wrong. I also take issue with the fact he already had an issue with me potentially refusing to provide details, when they weren't even necessary....!!

I also take issue with the fact he told me he was telling everybody. I turned around five seconds later to see him let a family group, and several older people walk straight past him. I am in my twenties, so I take issue with being stopped and assumed to be a law-breaker, purely because of my age.

If the police continue to stop people doing absolutely nothing wrong, then they will very rapidly lose any remaining respect from the British public. Why bother complying with the guidance when you get hassled regardless....

That's disgraceful. I would have been tempted to disregard him. I somewhat suspect there would be nothing he could have done to stop you.

 

[nedchester]

Had my first experience of being stopped by the police today, I was less than impressed.

Me & my partner were walking into Birmingham to get some shopping. Stopped on approach to Victoria Square and were told by an officer that there was an event on today in this area, and that he was therefore directing us to leave. We were told that if we did not, and he saw us again, we would be issued with a FPN under tier 4 legislation. He also said that if we refused to provide details, then that would be an issue. I told him that we were going to a shop. He didnt seem to budge on his stance, and we then discovered that if we asked if we walked a different way there, then he had no issues.

Presumably concerned we were part of the anti-lockdown protests which we later discovered are rumoured for Birmingham today.

I don't personally see how this excuses being stopped and questioned, and told to leave, when I am going about my business. This is a democracy - I should not have to justify what I am doing, nor be threatened with an FPN, for doing absolutely nothing wrong. I also take issue with the fact he already had an issue with me potentially refusing to provide details, when they weren't even necessary....!!

I also take issue with the fact he told me he was telling everybody. I turned around five seconds later to see him let a family group, and several older people walk straight past him. I am in my twenties, so I take issue with being stopped and assumed to be a law-breaker, purely because of my age.

If the police continue to stop people doing absolutely nothing wrong, then they will very rapidly lose any remaining respect from the British public. Why bother complying with the guidance when you get hassled regardless....

Not good and this shows the randomness of the approach that is being taken.

It is right not to provide details if you are not breaking the law. OK if they subsequently catch you breaking the law then that is a different matter.

 

[PeterC]

That's disgraceful. I would have been tempted to disregard him. I somewhat suspect there would be nothing he could have done to stop you.

I think that there is a lot that a police officer could do to stop you. It might not be justified but you would have to argue that after the event.

 

[yorksrob]

I'd rip any such signs down! I have ripped signs down back in the Summer which told people a towpath was for local people only (as @yorksrob could confirm!)

I can indeed !

 

[21C101]

Had my first experience of being stopped by the police today, I was less than impressed.

Me & my partner were walking into Birmingham to get some shopping. Stopped on approach to Victoria Square and were told by an officer that there was an event on today in this area, and that he was therefore directing us to leave. We were told that if we did not, and he saw us again, we would be issued with a FPN under tier 4 legislation. He also said that if we refused to provide details, then that would be an issue. I told him that we were going to a shop. He didnt seem to budge on his stance, and we then discovered that if we asked if we walked a different way there, then he had no issues.

Presumably concerned we were part of the anti-lockdown protests which we later discovered are rumoured for Birmingham today.

I don't personally see how this excuses being stopped and questioned, and told to leave, when I am going about my business. This is a democracy - I should not have to justify what I am doing, nor be threatened with an FPN, for doing absolutely nothing wrong. I also take issue with the fact he already had an issue with me potentially refusing to provide details, when they weren't even necessary....!!

I also take issue with the fact he told me he was telling everybody. I turned around five seconds later to see him let a family group, and several older people walk straight past him. I am in my twenties, so I take issue with being stopped and assumed to be a law-breaker, purely because of my age.

If the police continue to stop people doing absolutely nothing wrong, then they will very rapidly lose any remaining respect from the British public. Why bother complying with the guidance when you get hassled regardless....

Suspect he was SPG or similar (not local usual police) who appear to be a band of trained thugs used to police demonstrations and protests that don't have the sympathy of the powers that be.

 

[david1212]

Had my first experience of being stopped by the police today, I was less than impressed.

Me & my partner were walking into Birmingham to get some shopping. Stopped on approach to Victoria Square and were told by an officer that there was an event on today in this area, and that he was therefore directing us to leave. We were told that if we did not, and he saw us again, we would be issued with a FPN under tier 4 legislation. He also said that if we refused to provide details, then that would be an issue. I told him that we were going to a shop. He didnt seem to budge on his stance, and we then discovered that if we asked if we walked a different way there, then he had no issues.

Presumably concerned we were part of the anti-lockdown protests which we later discovered are rumoured for Birmingham today.

I don't personally see how this excuses being stopped and questioned, and told to leave, when I am going about my business. This is a democracy - I should not have to justify what I am doing, nor be threatened with an FPN, for doing absolutely nothing wrong. I also take issue with the fact he already had an issue with me potentially refusing to provide details, when they weren't even necessary....!!

I also take issue with the fact he told me he was telling everybody. I turned around five seconds later to see him let a family group, and several older people walk straight past him. I am in my twenties, so I take issue with being stopped and assumed to be a law-breaker, purely because of my age.

If the police continue to stop people doing absolutely nothing wrong, then they will very rapidly lose any remaining respect from the British public. Why bother complying with the guidance when you get hassled regardless....

Disgraceful.

If he / she was politely directing everyone away from an area for a valid reason without questioning why you were approaching let alone requesting personal details that would be different.

As I keep posting the police should be using the current situation to build bridges with the British Public not blast deeper and wider
chasms.

 

[brick60000]

Just to clarify - I realise I didnt make this clear! He didnt ask us to provide details. He said that if he was to ask for them, and we refused, then he would have an issue. That's what annoyed me - he was taking issue with something that we hadn't done, because he hadn't even asked for the details.

That's literally like walking up to a child and saying, out of the blue, if you kick me in the shin I'm going to be very cross with you. Why create an issue, where there literally even isnt one!

 

[bengley]

I think that there is a lot that a police officer could do to stop you. It might not be justified but you would have to argue that after the event.

I don't doubt it. I'd enjoy the chat with the custody sergeant afterwards. I suspect the case would be dropped very quickly.

 

[yorkie]

The rise of authoritarianism in this country is very troubling indeed.

The police are losing a lot of respect by their actions

 

[Skimpot flyer]

Had my first experience of being stopped by the police today, I was less than impressed.

Me & my partner were walking into Birmingham to get some shopping. Stopped on approach to Victoria Square and were told by an officer that there was an event on today in this area, and that he was therefore directing us to leave. We were told that if we did not, and he saw us again, we would be issued with a FPN under tier 4 legislation. He also said that if we refused to provide details, then that would be an issue. I told him that we were going to a shop. He didnt seem to budge on his stance, and we then discovered that if we asked if we walked a different way there, then he had no issues.

Presumably concerned we were part of the anti-lockdown protests which we later discovered are rumoured for Birmingham today.

I don't personally see how this excuses being stopped and questioned, and told to leave, when I am going about my business. This is a democracy - I should not have to justify what I am doing, nor be threatened with an FPN, for doing absolutely nothing wrong. I also take issue with the fact he already had an issue with me potentially refusing to provide details, when they weren't even necessary....!!

I also take issue with the fact he told me he was telling everybody. I turned around five seconds later to see him let a family group, and several older people walk straight past him. I am in my twenties, so I take issue with being stopped and assumed to be a law-breaker, purely because of my age.

If the police continue to stop people doing absolutely nothing wrong, then they will very rapidly lose any remaining respect from the British public. Why bother complying with the guidance when you get hassled regardless....

This is exactly what protestors have warned people about, but still people are not waking up!
We are sleepwalking into a police state, one where you are presumed guilty of a breach of regulations before actually doing something that does break them. You are presumed guilty and there is no way to prove your presence is entirely innocent. Outrageous.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jan 2021 ==

I know that the lady in this clip (at about 13m30s) is a bit vocal, but she is complying with a request to disperse, and leave the area. But police relentlessly follow her, then arrest her. I think she was protesting about the guy who died in Cardiff... maybe she is even the one fined for organising that protest? I don’t know

 

[E100]

The rise of authoritarianism in this country is very troubling indeed.

The police are losing a lot of respect by their actions

Entirely agreed.

As I'm sure we are all by all accounts law abiding citizens, the very people who are being criminalised for going about their day to day business as best we can. Immediate justification should be required to be given for the reason for any stop (my understanding of stop and search based powers is that it must be anyway but I am hazy on this).

I take particular issue with the police trying to enforce guidance rather than legislation. Doubly so when only the legislation is subject to some vague form of democracy, with the guidance not given the same scrutiny (admittedly the legislation is done under emergency powers so also attracts little prior scrutiny but I am somewhat willing to give them a pass more so for that given the circumstances). It feels like a very slippery slope indeed.

Why the police cannot take a more tactful judgement based stance on things such as trainspotting etc is very worrying as it suggests the days days of the police using their common sense are well and truly gone. i.e. if it is not doing anyone any harm why get involved. They should only be policing for the common good not for the sake of it. That can only lead to ever increasing authoritarianism in my opinion.

Indeed as you say Yorkie, they are losing my respect with every instance of what can only be described as 'Derbyshire inspired' policing.

 

[island]

As I'm sure we are all by all accounts law abiding citizens, the very people who are being criminalised for going about their day to day business as best we can. Immediate justification should be required to be given for the reason for any stop (my understanding of stop and search based powers is that it must be anyway but I am hazy on this).

The police have an entitlement under the Road Traffic Act to stop any car for a good or bad reason or no reason at all.

On the railway, they generally stop people on trains or in the paid area of a station by way of asking for tickets.

Out and about it is more nuanced, but their rights to detain people are limited.

 

[duncanp]

Oh dear.

I see that Scottish fishermen protesting in London today were give £200 fines for making "unecessary" journeys which I know a certain female Scottish politician will no doubt take advantage of.

If they were Black Lives Matter demonstrators, that, of course, would be a different story.

 

[Fisherman80]

I would like to tell of an incident which happened back in November during the second lockdown in England.
I was a carer for my dad until he passed away on Sunday the 20th of September 2020.
Now anyone who has been a full time carer will know exactly what I am talking about.
It is one of the hardest things to do. The never ending hospital appointments,being there for meals and medication,not going too far in case anything happens,being ready at a moment's notice in case of an emergency,having a none excistant social life,the impact it has on your wellbeing ect....
......but I would do it all again!
Having Chronic Asthma,I was advised to shield myself and stay at home during the height of the pandemic,but I could not do that as I was caring for my dad.
Anyway,fast forward to November.
Feeling absolutely fed up with things,and feeling mentally unwell ( I have been taking medication for a number of years,and I have also been ans inpatient in a psychiatric hospital) I decided to have a trip from Bingley to Carlisle.........just being on a train for a couple of hours does the world of good for me.

I arrived in Carlisle and only spent around 1 hour there.......just having a walk round to clear my head. When you have been a full time carer you go through a phase of everything being none stop for the person you are caring for.........then all of a sudden nothing.

Heading back into Carlisle station,a British Transport Police officer approached me and and asked the nature of my journey. I told her I was having a ride out on the train to clear my head after the death of my dad. At this stage a couple more police officers joined in,plus a couple of station staff. They were telling me I should not have been travelling,even after everything I told them.

It was at this stage a police officer was going to issue me with a fixed penalty notice. I told her to issue one but I would not be paying it and I was extremely upset with the situation I was in. I'm usually a very calm and collected person but I lost my temper..........probably a build up of feeling cornered and made to feel like a criminal.

I had had enough.

As the officer was asking for my details I was uncooperative and I called her and her colleagues B#####ds for making me feel like a criminal. I was not proud of what I said but im a hard person to upset and those officers,along with the station staff,antagonised me into saying that. I told them to arrest me or let me go home. I then walked away to catch my train and just burst into tears..........I'm 40 years old and can count the amount of times I've cried on one hand.

The only positive thing that happened on that day was the way I was treated by the conductor on my return journey........she was fantastic and completely understood me.

This has been difficult to write,but I will end by saying that just because a person appears normal on the outside,that person may be going through hell on the inside,and the British Transport Police at Carlisle station should be ashamed of themselves because I can imagine people out there are in a similar position as myself.

Thanks for reading.

 

[nedchester]

I would like to tell of an incident which happened back in November during the second lockdown in England.
I was a carer for my dad until he passed away on Sunday the 20th of September 2020.
Now anyone who has been a full time carer will know exactly what I am talking about.
It is one of the hardest things to do. The never ending hospital appointments,being there for meals and medication,not going too far in case anything happens,being ready at a moment's notice in case of an emergency,having a none excistant social life,the impact it has on your wellbeing ect....
......but I would do it all again!
Having Chronic Asthma,I was advised to shield myself and stay at home during the height of the pandemic,but I could not do that as I was caring for my dad.
Anyway,fast forward to November.
Feeling absolutely fed up with things,and feeling mentally unwell ( I have been taking medication for a number of years,and I have also been ans inpatient in a psychiatric hospital) I decided to have a trip from Bingley to Carlisle.........just being on a train for a couple of hours does the world of good for me.

I arrived in Carlisle and only spent around 1 hour there.......just having a walk round to clear my head. When you have been a full time carer you go through a phase of everything being none stop for the person you are caring for.........then all of a sudden nothing.

Heading back into Carlisle station,a British Transport Police officer approached me and and asked the nature of my journey. I told her I was having a ride out on the train to clear my head after the death of my dad. At this stage a couple more police officers joined in,plus a couple of station staff. They were telling me I should not have been travelling,even after everything I told them.

It was at this stage a police officer was going to issue me with a fixed penalty notice. I told her to issue one but I would not be paying it and I was extremely upset with the situation I was in. I'm usually a very calm and collected person but I lost my temper..........probably a build up of feeling cornered and made to feel like a criminal.

I had had enough.

As the officer was asking for my details I was uncooperative and I called her and her colleagues B#####ds for making me feel like a criminal. I was not proud of what I said but im a hard person to upset and those officers,along with the station staff,antagonised me into saying that. I told them to arrest me or let me go home. I then walked away to catch my train and just burst into tears..........I'm 40 years old and can count the amount of times I've cried on one hand.

The only positive thing that happened on that day was the way I was treated by the conductor on my return journey........she was fantastic and completely understood me.

This has been difficult to write,but I will end by saying that just because a person appears normal on the outside,that person may be going through hell on the inside,and the British Transport Police at Carlisle station should be ashamed of themselves because I can imagine people out there are in a similar position as myself.

Thanks for reading.

That’s awful.

Nothing more to say.

 

[GodAtum]

I would like to tell of an incident which happened back in November during the second lockdown in England.
I was a carer for my dad until he passed away on Sunday the 20th of September 2020.
Now anyone who has been a full time carer will know exactly what I am talking about.
It is one of the hardest things to do. The never ending hospital appointments,being there for meals and medication,not going too far in case anything happens,being ready at a moment's notice in case of an emergency,having a none excistant social life,the impact it has on your wellbeing ect....
......but I would do it all again!
Having Chronic Asthma,I was advised to shield myself and stay at home during the height of the pandemic,but I could not do that as I was caring for my dad.
Anyway,fast forward to November.
Feeling absolutely fed up with things,and feeling mentally unwell ( I have been taking medication for a number of years,and I have also been ans inpatient in a psychiatric hospital) I decided to have a trip from Bingley to Carlisle.........just being on a train for a couple of hours does the world of good for me.

I arrived in Carlisle and only spent around 1 hour there.......just having a walk round to clear my head. When you have been a full time carer you go through a phase of everything being none stop for the person you are caring for.........then all of a sudden nothing.

Heading back into Carlisle station,a British Transport Police officer approached me and and asked the nature of my journey. I told her I was having a ride out on the train to clear my head after the death of my dad. At this stage a couple more police officers joined in,plus a couple of station staff. They were telling me I should not have been travelling,even after everything I told them.

It was at this stage a police officer was going to issue me with a fixed penalty notice. I told her to issue one but I would not be paying it and I was extremely upset with the situation I was in. I'm usually a very calm and collected person but I lost my temper..........probably a build up of feeling cornered and made to feel like a criminal.

I had had enough.

As the officer was asking for my details I was uncooperative and I called her and her colleagues B#####ds for making me feel like a criminal. I was not proud of what I said but im a hard person to upset and those officers,along with the station staff,antagonised me into saying that. I told them to arrest me or let me go home. I then walked away to catch my train and just burst into tears..........I'm 40 years old and can count the amount of times I've cried on one hand.

The only positive thing that happened on that day was the way I was treated by the conductor on my return journey........she was fantastic and completely understood me.

This has been difficult to write,but I will end by saying that just because a person appears normal on the outside,that person may be going through hell on the inside,and the British Transport Police at Carlisle station should be ashamed of themselves because I can imagine people out there are in a similar position as myself.

Thanks for reading.

Thank you for your post, it's very moving. I'd like to recount a friends experience. She's an A&E nurse at a hospital in the UK. On her 30 minutes break she went outside to a nearby park to eat her lunch on a bench. Some police officers cam up to her and asked her to identify and account for herself. She explained to them what she was doing, and they said that this was not allowed. They asked for her details which she refused so they promptly arrested her. This left the hospital short staffed for most of the day because of the police's actions. In the end they dropped the charges.