Thank god our police aren't armed

[Machiavelli]

Always remember, you have the right to remain silent

Especially if you're a mute.

 

[bluethrunthru]

Why did he refuse to give his details when they asked him

If he isn't being detained he is under no obligation to give his details to the officer. Once they indicate they intend to detain him I believe he is obliged to tell them either at the roadside or down at the station. However as a well know advocate for race relations who works with the Police AND who has been detained for this mistaken identity before I think this is a crass mistake by these Police officers and Avon and Somerset Police in general - one would have thought officers on patrol in the area where this guy lives - a known "friend" of the Police should be aware he looks a bit like a known villain and could act accordingly.

I agree though notwithstanding all the above a quick proof of i.d would have prevented all this.

The lass who discharged the taser is in bother though. She clearly shouts " Taser, taser " after she has pulled the trigger - that is done as much to warn the colleague so he can get out of the line of fire. Which he wasn't able to and she definitely fired too close to him too.

 

[bluethrunthru]

You do not have to give your name unless accused of a crime.
You do not have to stop for a police officer unless accused of a crime.
If asked for your name, or asked to answer questions, the officer has to tell you what you are suoected of and if he does not or cannot do so you are free under the common law to continue about your business unimpeded.

This is the case.......... its not a Police state - the Police act on their oath under common law. If a Policeman stops you and enquires what's your business what is it to do with them? Only when accused of a specific crime are you obliged to give your details and account for yourself. If a Police officer is sure of himself he can take you down the station and process you. There are few awards for Policemen who tie up custody suites for arrests based on "hunches" that are unsupportable in law.

Look it up on You Tube. There's loads of stuff on there where people exercise their rights and the Police are shown up for not even knowing the basics. Some can't even distinguish between an Act or Parliament and a Law

 

[bluwes]

Time for you all to be tucked up in bed, safe in the knowledge that the police are looking after you. If you feel you don't need them, then please don't dial 999 and waste their time. Maybe you can sort your problem out yourself

 

[i kne albert davy]

This is the case.......... its not a Police state - the Police act on their oath under common law. If a Policeman stops you and enquires what's your business what is it to do with them? Only when accused of a specific crime are you obliged to give your details and account for yourself. If a Police officer is sure of himself he can take you down the station and process you. There are few awards for Policemen who tie up custody suites for arrests based on "hunches" that are unsupportable in law.

Look it up on You Tube. There's loads of stuff on there where people exercise their rights and the Police are shown up for not even knowing the basics. Some can't even distinguish between an Act or Parliament and a Law

You're right in that you don't have to tell a police officer anything unless suspected and charged with a crime,on the otherhand you do have a civic duty to assist the police where possible to prevent crime or in the course of their duty,as opposed to being a complete clever dicky. So if you unfortunately happen to look like a local wrong un a quick cheery this happens to me all the time officer here my ID and everybody would have been on their way without the slightest issue.

 

[Bill Walker]

His own fault

 

[Tricky Dickys Right Foot Shot]

In a scenario I can put myself in, about 10 years ago I was stopped in Stockport centre (back when it had more than 1 shop) and I was stopped by an on duty police officer, who asked me why I wasn't in school (this was when I was 18 and blessed with youthful looks), she then informed me that I matched the description of a shoplifter that had been reported and asked my name, and that I'd need to be searched.
So as the law abiding citizen I am, I complied and gave her my name and let her search me, to which she was grateful, thanked me and allowed me to move on!

I didn't spaz out and start shouting "Is this Nazi Germany? I'm sorry I didn't know the Germans won" or start kicking up a fuss.
If you've got nothing to hide then why make a police officers job harder than it needs to be?

 

[steviemc]

In a scenario I can put myself in, about 10 years ago I was stopped in Stockport centre (back when it had more than 1 shop) and I was stopped by an on duty police officer, who asked me why I wasn't in school (this was when I was 18 and blessed with youthful looks), she then informed me that I matched the description of a shoplifter that had been reported and asked my name, and that I'd need to be searched.
So as the law abiding citizen I am, I complied and gave her my name and let her search me,

Hmm...i bet you did :-)

 

[TCIB]

What did he get charged with...a battery.

ba-ding-tish, i am here for the rest of the weekend folks tell your friends to come down.

 

[Uncle Wally One Ball]

If he isn't being detained he is under no obligation to give his details to the officer. Once they indicate they intend to detain him I believe he is obliged to tell them either at the roadside or down at the station. However as a well know advocate for race relations who works with the Police AND who has been detained for this mistaken identity before I think this is a crass mistake by these Police officers and Avon and Somerset Police in general - one would have thought officers on patrol in the area where this guy lives - a known "friend" of the Police should be aware he looks a bit like a known villain and could act accordingly.

I agree though notwithstanding all the above a quick proof of i.d would have prevented all this.

The lass who discharged the taser is in bother though. She clearly shouts " Taser, taser " after she has pulled the trigger - that is done as much to warn the colleague so he can get out of the line of fire. Which he wasn't able to and she definitely fired too close to him too.

You are thinking of 'the police' or 'Avon and Somerset Police' though. What it really comes down to though is one particular police officer, a himan being, who may not know that. He was also in a hood and not being particularly helpful about his identity or appearance. If there is a failure here in not recognising something, it is not on the behalf of the poor bird working doing an hard job, it is on the behalf of the bloke who could easily have said 'Im not that bloke, I am the bloke who has in the past done race relations stuff'. The lass who pulled the tazer thing is only doing what she is trained to do, and that is the whole point of training. Every time she would have pulled that thing in training she will have been instructed to shout 'taser. taser!' That is the whole point of training, so that when it does for real it is second nature. So that is what she did. It is nothing to do with the colleague at all, it is just what she is told to do and in pressure situations trying to be professional she reverted to training.