Boarded by plod

cardinal_mark

cardinal_mark

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Last weekend we were drifting aimlessly around Chichester bay - making a mighty 2 kts IIRC! - when all of a sudden 'the black rib' approachd and asked if it was okay to come aboard. Sure I said, no problem. They were perfectly polite and simply took a few details, checked that it was my boat and that I didn't have any terrorists down below, which of course I didn't; although I'm not sure what they made of the overly friendly Airedale roused from her slumber!

Anyway, one then asked if all three children were ours. Two of them were, the other was a friend of my 9 year old daughter... 'do you have a letter from her parents to confirm that it is okay for her to be with you out here?' they asked. Er no! Well you should really, especially on a boat... but she looks happy enough so I'm sure its fine...

A couple of things struck me; why board a boat that is clearly just a white middle(ish) class family making the best of the weather (is it prove that everyone is treated equally?) and WTF is all this about letters from parents???

They must have been really bored is all I can guess! Whadayareckon?

Mark
 
Well if "white middle-ish class families" make a habit of refering to them a "Plod".....it's a wonder that you are not boarded on a more regular basis!







Followed swiftly by a damn good rodgering with a riot stick! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
'do you have a letter from her parents to confirm that it is okay for her to be with you out here?' they asked. Er no! Well you should really, especially on a boat... but she looks happy enough so I'm sure its fine...

[/ QUOTE ]It is burocracy and 'elf and safety gone mad.

I help run a Sea Scout group and the paperwork is horrendous. We have to get permission slips for everything. I am qualified as a YM and according to Scouts rules can only take 1 keel boat up to 500meters from the shorein summer and have to stay in quiet estuaries in winter!
 
I think you already worked it out, no suspicious looking Araby types trying to hide behind West Pole or blend in with the dinghy racing, so some 'action' had to be recorded in the log book.

You dont say, but was SWMBO, uh, er, 'properly attired? An attractive lady in a swimming cossy might have caused you to be singled out. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

good point about the letter though. On Friday (if the rain keeps off) we will have 160 children out on the water on 50 diffferent boats, hope the schools got a letter from the parents! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]

asked if it was okay to come aboard.


[/ QUOTE ]

I wonder what the reaction would have been if you had politely declined, unless they were prepared to invoke powers and make it clear exactly which ones they were invoking and on what grounds.

I actually think the question about the ownership of the kids was an invasion of privacy, and if asked in front of kids, very insensitive. Not everyone has straightforward family relationships these days and it could be hurtful or embarrassing to discuss them. Just because you are dressed up in a black play suit doesn't give you the right to pry like that.
 
[ QUOTE ]
why board a boat that is clearly just a white middle(ish) class family making the best of the weather ?

[/ QUOTE ]

It was safer than one with people that looked like terrorists.

Brian
 
Your attitude beggars belief!...........They have every right, and I hope they are never made to feel that they shouldn't be asking questions.

Maybe you should be thinking less of petty sensitivities, and more about why they are there in the first place, and maybe, just maybe mind, being glad that they are there, and being a bit supportive of them.

I wonder in fact, if a lot of the "plod knockers" on these forums, just resent the idea that there is somebody that has authority over them? It does seem to be a bit of a favourite passtime on here.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Can't they go out if it is wet?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes of course they can, I'll have oilies on! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
No, Chrusty, its your attitude that beggars belief. They do not have the automatic right, which is why they asked. Of course, if you refused then they 'may' go and get the authority/warrant, but they would need to justify their actions very clearly.
Thi is not Plod knocking as you call it, just a sensible use of the checks and balances in the UK law. They need to have the correct authority if they wish to force the issue. An individual choice to comply or not with what may or may not be a reasonable request.
(My Brother In law is Plod)

It is not petty sensitivities, and our rights are being eroded continually in the face of defeating the enemy, allegedly. You may well support the 42 day detention, but I certainly don't.
 
I agree. Once we'd laughed off the bit about the letter we did actually appreciate the benefits of having a police presence. If anyone's kids, or worse still, their boat /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif has been abducted then having a police presence actually on the water can be no bad thing.

We actually ended up signing on for some kind of rekindled 'harbour watch' type thing - so we are now official undercover agents.... PWC users watch your step!!
Mark
 
It certainly seems a bit over zealous of the police. It doesn't sound as if they had any real reason to stop you or come on board. If Chichester is now seen as an area at risk from terrorism, perhaps we should be told?

Why on earth do they think that written permission is required to take someone else's child on board a boat? Surely this is absolute nonsense? Unless the police are properly briefed, they might find themselves very busy when we take the kids out this Friday...come rain or shine.
 
Hi Mark,

Sorry I let fly at you a bit, but it's just all these perishing know it alls on these forums that get on my tits. As someone has just intimated that the Police don't have a right to board a vessel without a warrant, they had best think again! They only have to have reasonable suspicion, and as far as I am concerned they can board as many, and whoever's boats, including mine, as often as they wish.

As Diesel said, if some-one had their boat stolen or broken into and robbed, they would probably view things in a different light.

Anyway, apologies, just feeling a bit more grumpy than usual today! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]

They have every right, [to ask questions and search]


[/ QUOTE ]
I am afraid they don't, and since these officers asked politely I am sure they knew that. Well, I suppose they have every right to ask but in many cases we have every right to decline to answer.

Broadly their powers to stop and search stem from Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and lately Terrorism Act 2000 and the Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001. I think we can rule out the last two, and since they asked nicely they seemed to have ruled out PACE themselves, which means they probably had no grounds at all.

I am not for a moment suggesting not co-operating with or helping the police on a routine basis but that should be recognized as voluntary a act by a free public.
 
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...They only have to have reasonable suspicion...

[/ QUOTE ]
So they can't just jump on your boat for no reason and it is also reasonable for you to ask them why.
[ QUOTE ]
...and as far as I am concerned they can board as many, and whoever's boats, including mine, as often as they wish...

[/ QUOTE ]
Forunately you can only give permission for them to board your boat, not mine. So if they want to come on my boat they will still have to ask me and tell me why they want to, before I give them permission.
 
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