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Is this a bit intrusive policing?
The Wizard
Posts: 11,071 Forum Member
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A few nights ago me and my wife came back from a night out. My son was up my dad's house as they'd been babysitting.
We got off the bus near home and I saw my wife home safely, went in and had a bit of super and then I walked back by myself to my mum and dads which is on the other end of town.
On my way back a police car turned out of a side street and did a U turn and pulled on the opposite side of the road facing the wrong way and proceeded to curb crawl behind me for a while until I turned around and he stopped. I was on my mobile to my wife as I was walking back talking about our night out. I put my phone to my side but didn't hang up. The conversation went as follows...
-Alright? What's your name?
Told him my first name
-No what's your full name?
Told him my full name
-Where do you live?
Told him
-We don't see many people about at that time of night.
(Really? It's only 1am it's hardly really late. I thought) What I actually felt like saying was, we don't see many coopers about here either but what's with the reason for stopping me? But I didn't.
Next he said...
-Where are you going?
Told him I was heading back to my parent's house on the other side of town.
-Wheres that?
Told him. Then he said, "Who are you on the phone to?"
Seriously what the ***k has it got to do with them?
All I was.doing was walking back to my mum and dad's after a night out yet I was made to feel like I was on trial here. It all felt very intrusive.
He said OK and went on his way. A minute later he turned around and came back past me looking at me like I was up to no good.
We got off the bus near home and I saw my wife home safely, went in and had a bit of super and then I walked back by myself to my mum and dads which is on the other end of town.
On my way back a police car turned out of a side street and did a U turn and pulled on the opposite side of the road facing the wrong way and proceeded to curb crawl behind me for a while until I turned around and he stopped. I was on my mobile to my wife as I was walking back talking about our night out. I put my phone to my side but didn't hang up. The conversation went as follows...
-Alright? What's your name?
Told him my first name
-No what's your full name?
Told him my full name
-Where do you live?
Told him
-We don't see many people about at that time of night.
(Really? It's only 1am it's hardly really late. I thought) What I actually felt like saying was, we don't see many coopers about here either but what's with the reason for stopping me? But I didn't.
Next he said...
-Where are you going?
Told him I was heading back to my parent's house on the other side of town.
-Wheres that?
Told him. Then he said, "Who are you on the phone to?"
Seriously what the ***k has it got to do with them?
All I was.doing was walking back to my mum and dad's after a night out yet I was made to feel like I was on trial here. It all felt very intrusive.
He said OK and went on his way. A minute later he turned around and came back past me looking at me like I was up to no good.
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Why were you picking up your child that late at night? Or do you sleep there after a night out with your wife? I am very confused.
Damned if they do and damned if they don't it seems.:D
But chances are someone had reported something nearby (or high burglary area. Or he was bored
A bit off, but not really problematic.
I get it now and then when I'm out for a walk
conversation/interrogation usually proceeds on similar lines
what you doing, walking.
where you going, home. where you been, home.
that's right, incredible as it may seem, a 60 plus year old man is out for a breath of fresh air after midnight cause it's nice to take a break from my computer.
they're bored so others have to suffer
Ever the same, even the police get bored sometimes.
"What are you doing?", obviously not the brightest on the force considering the dog was with me on a lead.
"Where are you going?"
"Nowhere really, just round the streets with the dog"
"Is it your dog?"
"Err, yes".
"Where have you come from?"
"My house, just round the corner"
"Why are you taking the dog for a walk this late?"
"Because I've been out all evening and she's been stuck inside"
"OK, it just seems a bit suspicious that's all"
If I was really going to commit a burglary or something like that, why on Earth would I have a dog with me?.
A previous time was when I was working and walking part way home from work from a late shift. It was 3am. I was dressed in a shirt and tie, with shiny shoes. I was walking in an office park, having just left the building where I worked and was heading around a mile to the nearest night bus stop. Strange thing was they had driven past two chavvy dressed lads wearing hoodies to stop me instead, which I thought was a bit strange.
Maybe I just have one of those faces.
Mind you, that copper's house got egged to hell and back that weekend, the giant bell-end.
Well, at least the sex was good.
They probably stopped you because you were looking smug
...and you went back home where you sat in a darkened room, oblivious to events beyond the tattered walls adorned with strange, crude icons . Seething with unbridled hatred and muttering ancient arcane threats damning the police to hell, your fists so clenched with rage that if one listened in the night the faint drip, drip, drip of blood on carpet could be heard. Then, after two days and two nights had passed and the moon became full, the writhing hatred suddenly subsided, your fists unclenched, the red mist dissipated and you could once again unleash your tale of woe upon the unsuspecting world.
That is no way intimidating, I'd be happy for any copper to be checking lone men wandering around an area at that time, or women. I don't see an issue here at all unless 'somebody' wants to make one of it!
They asked your name, which you gave.
They asked where you lived, again you gave, freely.
They asked what you were doing (given time, not too unreasonable) and you gave.
They have no right to ask who you are communicating with.
Giving plod the benefit of doubt they may have been looking for someone that met your general description. Put it down to this plod just being an arse.
Its pretty intimidating having the police question you when you havent done anything wrong and you're not expecting it. They're not nice about it you know they're usually rude and act like they're looking for a reason to arrest you.
For an example of this, any Love Police video where they ask if the officer is requesting or demanding their details will do.
We have no overview of the area, it may be that there may be a reason for police to be 'observing' activity within the area. If you have done nothing wrong then there should be no reason to feel intimidated, answering your name and where you live isn't exactly intimidating is it?
What difference does it make what time it is? He had no reason to stop and question me so thoroughly. Yet again more bullying police tactics from bored coppers with nothing else better to do. All I was doing was walking up a main road minding my own business. It's not as if I was skulking around someone's front garden or looking like I was up to no good.
Where are they when you actually need them eh? Probably too busy picking on some poor motorist or intimidating some drunken students. Heaven forbid they actually have to deal with any real criminals.
Really? Working? I'd call that bored and felt like picking on someone just for something to do on a boring rainy night to pass the time. Hardly a reason to stop someone. Since when was walking down a street classed as a good reason to give someone the Spanish Inquisition and what right has he got to demand who I'm talking on the phone to? Cheeky bugger! Sounds more like an abuse of power if you ask me.
Yes I sleep there after a night out so I can be up and give my son breakfast and take him to nursery in the morning. I saves my mum driving down to ours and driving back late. It was easier for me to head back there by myself as it's too far for my wife to walk. She got a peaceful nights sleep in her own bed and a lie in.
That's EXACTLY how they made me feel. Plus what's with the slow curb crawling behind me as I was walking along until I turned around? Why not just drive straight up and be a bit more open about it rather than this skulking about business and what's with wanting to know who I'm on the phone to. A bit much wouldn't you say?
Think yourself lucky. I had them pull up and conduct a stop and search on me as well as all those same types of nosy, intrusive questioning just because i was WALKING, yes just walking down a street alone late at night and they said there had been a lot of burglaries there recently. They found nothing on me and then informed me it would be kept on file for 12 months!!!
I couldn't care less what they ask me, as I know I am doing nothing wrong, and my car is fully legal.