Police State ?

[unnameable]

What they about?

The first three are collections of offbeat short stories. The last is more earthy. It contains much about Lancing and brothels in both Oxford and Portslade.

In none of them is there anything about Britain as a police state. That would be wishful thinking. Only joking, Crasher.

 

[Les Biehn]

Sounds like you write for Men Only. What a sexist name for a porno, plenty of bisexual and homosexual ladies should be allowed to enjoy such a publication.

 

[crasher]

The first three are collections of offbeat short stories. The last is more earthy. It contains much about Lancing and brothels in both Oxford and Portslade.

In none of them is there anything about Britain as a police state. That would be wishful thinking. Only joking, Crasher.

So were you joking in your original post about being happy to live in a police state?

 

[unnameable]

So were you joking in your original post about being happy to live in a police state?

My comment was slightly tongue-in-cheek, Crasher. However, walk through Oxford's Cornmarket Street and George Street on a Saturday night, or through either Barton or Rose Hill (suburbs of Oxford in which you would not leave an Alsatian unattended out of fear for its safety) at any time of any day, and you might see, if only fleetingly, the virtues of a police state.

 

[Buzzer]

I have 10 O levels, 4 A levels, 2 degrees and have had three books (fiction) published. So you're right. I'm a bit thick.

means nothing. If you think freedom should be rationed then you're thick as two short planks.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

The Detriot bloke was absolutely livid and suggested to me that it was the sort of thing he would expect in Nazi Germany.

Guantanamo Bay.

 

[unnameable]

means nothing. If you think freedom should be rationed then you're thick as two short planks.

Freedom is compromised, even in a liberal-democratic state. Only in a Hobbesian state of nature is freedom absolute.

 

[Les Biehn]

Freedom is compromised, even in a liberal-democratic state. Only in a Hobbesian state of nature is freedom absolute.

The Shire?

 

[Tony Meolas Loan Spell]

I lived in Singapore for a while and on the one hand it's great that you can stumble out of bar or club at 4am, walk home, and be completely safe but on the other hand you couldn't do anything like rent a flat, get a mobile phone, etc. without them seeing your ID card and recording your Foreigner Identification Number. The Singaporean Government knows everything that goes on and holds a file on everyone.

Doesnt sound so bad to me! If I have to rent somewhere or apply for a phone contract I have to show ID anyway!

Plus being able to walk home safely at that time in the morning. Wicked.

 

[Collar Feeler]

I can't speak for coppers in the Met as they seem to have a totally different set of rules and ways of policing than anywhere else in the country. What strikes me as odd is that if the account is true the copper involved didn't have to stop the two fellas he could have excerised his own discretion and decided not to stop them if he had wanted, sounds like a cop out (pardon the pun) on his part to suggest that he was simply following orders, I'd say that was bollocks. Unfortunately, discretion in todays police seems to be used less and less, I tutor new PCs and the impression I get from them is that they are so terrified of making a mistake or being complained about that they are afraid to excercise discretion and would rather go by the book or stick to a decision once they have made it. I tell them time and again that it is the single most important skill in their possession and to change your decision or admit you got it wrong is the hardest thing to try and get coppers to learn!

Stop and search is a vital tool for police in detecting and preventing crime but it must be used correctly and reasonably. maybe the copper concerned in the stop of the two black guys could have done it differently. Perhaps he could have engaged them in a general conversation first without it becoming an official 'stop', made conversation about their night out and if they had managed to get some good photos. Maybe then he might have realised they were not a threat and were just ordinary fellas out and about and they could have parted ways amiably without incident. Certainly that approach would work in Brighton but this is London we are talking about and perhaps the official stop approach is much more prevalent given the history of events up there.

 

[unnameable]

Doesnt sound so bad to me! If I have to rent somewhere or apply for a phone contract I have to show ID anyway!

Plus being able to walk home safely at that time in the morning. Wicked.

Careful what you say. Someone might hurl abuse at you. Your opinions might even be rubbished. Just like in a police state.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Careful what you say. Someone might hurl abuse at you. Your opinions might even be rubbished. Just like in a police state.

bit weak really.

 

[unnameable]

bit weak really.

Using abusive language to make one's point is weaker, wouldn't you say?

 

[crasher]

Freedom is compromised, even in a liberal-democratic state. Only in a Hobbesian state of nature is freedom absolute.

Well of course freedom's always curtailed by society.

But that doesn't alter the fact that it's worth struggling to increase the freedom we have rather than limiting it further.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

if your not doing anything wrong then you've nothing to worry about!

If only this statement were true. Sadly, the courts are littered with miscarriages of justice. I can think of a number of high cases where evidence has been fabricated.

 

[clapham_gull]

I can't speak for coppers in the Met as they seem to have a totally different set of rules and ways of policing than anywhere else in the country. What strikes me as odd is that if the account is true the copper involved didn't have to stop the two fellas he could have excerised his own discretion and decided not to stop them if he had wanted, sounds like a cop out (pardon the pun) on his part to suggest that he was simply following orders, I'd say that was bollocks. Unfortunately, discretion in todays police seems to be used less and less, I tutor new PCs and the impression I get from them is that they are so terrified of making a mistake or being complained about that they are afraid to excercise discretion and would rather go by the book or stick to a decision once they have made it. I tell them time and again that it is the single most important skill in their possession and to change your decision or admit you got it wrong is the hardest thing to try and get coppers to learn!

Stop and search is a vital tool for police in detecting and preventing crime but it must be used correctly and reasonably. maybe the copper concerned in the stop of the two black guys could have done it differently. Perhaps he could have engaged them in a general conversation first without it becoming an official 'stop', made conversation about their night out and if they had managed to get some good photos. Maybe then he might have realised they were not a threat and were just ordinary fellas out and about and they could have parted ways amiably without incident. Certainly that approach would work in Brighton but this is London we are talking about and perhaps the official stop approach is much more prevalent given the history of events up there.

What I forgot to mention was that one of the Police man involved was a community support officer. What struck me is that the whole thing seemed to be a bit fo a training exercise.

I'm not blaming the Police themselves on this one - both seemed embarressed by the whole thing. In fact one admitted as such.

 

[Tony Meolas Loan Spell]

Sadly, the courts are littered with miscarriages of justice. I can think of a number of high cases where evidence has been fabricated.

In the words of Gene Hunt "never fit anybody up who didnt deserve it"

 

[Storer68]

In today's climate I find it reassuring that the police have the powers to stop & search, if your not doing anything wrong then you've nothing to worry about!

and of course the police have no "previous" of abusing that law, do they.

 

[Storer68]

At present, under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000, officers already have the power to stop and search people or vehicles in an area seen as being at risk from terrorism even if they are not suspected of any breach of the law

 

[csider]

Look at the Deunant Books website. It is being upgraded at the moment; so it may not be working properly.

Even Theists Pray
Tomorrow's Almost Over
The Golden Age

I'm about to finish The Middle Way.

Read em, all. Shite.