Boarded by plod

[NealB]

Actually, I really wouldn't worry too much if Mr or Mrs Plod wanted to come and have a chat in my house. Why should I, as long as they behave themselves? I've a clear conscience, I have nothing to hide in my house, what do I need to worry about?

I agree I would get pretty hacked off it it became a regular feature of life, but as a very rare occurence (errr...it's never happened in any of my 52 years so far), it wouldn't bother me too much.

I am, however, aware of the need to be vigilant about the 'thin end of the wedge' with respect to our liberties.

 

[bobgoode]

The chances of a terrorist threat being averted by stop and search are vanishingly small, about the same as money laundering being stopped by the fiasco of "Banking Requirements for new accounts"

Toscas last post sums up how I feel. I will cooperate but resent the continual errosion of civil liberty.

As always the effect of such actions is to impose a burden on the law abiding and completely by pass the bas*ards that need to be stopped.

 

[christopherc]

[ QUOTE ]

Lets go a stage further and make it compulsory to give finger prints and a DNA sample before dole/sick pay / passport/ driving license and pension can be collected.

[/ QUOTE ]

All for it. In fact lets get everyone tagged at birth too, if we know where everyone is, we can solve all crime. After all, if you have nothing to hide.......

Sorry, but its just another story about the police state we have created. I was shocked to hear about this boarding incident. For one thing it seems a complete waste of tax payers money. There is real crime going on out there unchecked and someone has taken a decision to send the police on wild goose chases like this! Madness. They should be charged with wasting police time!!

 

[shmoo]

If this had actually happened to us when our kids were little we would have been in real trouble. There would have been cries of
"Arrest them: they are kidnapping us!"
"and they are cruel and treat us like slaves. Help!"
"They make us eat vegetables!"
"But you are a vegetarian..."
"Oh yes. They make us eat meat!"

Something like this happened many years ago when we were stopped at a roadblock in the miners strike with the spogs in the back. Puzzled old Bill couldn't get rid of us quickly enough.

 

[oldgit]

Have only ever been boarded around Greenwich and the Barrier on any of our trips.

 

[narooma]

Shmoo,
While I have no reason to doubt your statement it should be made clear that it does not apply to other nations. Try that in Spain for example and your boat will join the others in the corner of some marina yard with bullet holes down its sides.

I'm with Grumpy ...sorry.... Crusty... one this one

 

[wotayottie]

[ QUOTE ]

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 ]

Got it in one Crusty! We were brought up to believe that Dibble was there to serve the public, and to help. Want to know the time, ask a policeman etc.

Now we find that their view of their job is that they are appointed to control us. Thats the problems with power - it corrupts and is mis used. Had the boat owner objected to boarding, he could no doubt have been arrested under the terrorism acts, in the same way they have been abused elsewhere.

What possible justification could there have been for stopping someone going about their lawful business and with (presumably) no evidence of unlawful activity?

 

[l'escargot]

[ QUOTE ]
...With regards to the letter and children I think that a letter that allows you to act in loco parentis (?sp) with regards to any emergency treatment, etc. would be a good idea - especially if the parents maybe difficult to contact quickly.

W.

[/ QUOTE ]
The more I think about the letter the more I think it is absolute bollox - how do you "validate" the letter? Is there a national database of some sort with parents signatures and photos of the child it applies to? - is there hell. Is there a way of telling that a child abductor didn't type it up and sign it himself with the parents name, or anyones name come to that? - absolutely not.

Any such letter would be totally worthless in proving you have authority to have that child with you and any official accepting it as such should look for another job with less responsibilty!

 

[David_Jersey]

[ QUOTE ]
The chances of a terrorist threat being averted by stop and search are vanishingly small, about the same as money laundering being stopped by the fiasco of "Banking Requirements for new accounts"


[/ QUOTE ]

Oh you skeptic you /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[MarkJohnson12345]

Here here.

If this sort of behavoir becomes the norm, then the terrorists have won without a shot being fired.

Usually the anti terrorist police work on tip off's etc, so its odd that they have the time to spot check.

They do derserve respect, but they will loose it if they treat innocents badly, and use their powers bluntly.

Mj

 

[MarkGrubb]

Just a few thoughts...

I'm not convinced that a letter would grant authority to permit emergency treatment. Unless someone is a parent or a legal guardian i think it would unlikely for them to be consulted as to treatment. The doctors will probably make their own decisions and proceed, and only if treatment can't wait for the parents to be consulted.

A parent may be asked to make a decision as to whether a particular procedure with known side affects is carried out. Would you really want to make that decision in their absence? Did the parents have it in mind when they wrote the letter?Had they thought through the full consequences of what they were asking friend to do?

Bear in mind that the parent is making decisions on behalf of the child because at a young age they are deemed not to have capacity and understanding to make decisions themselves. If the child can demonstrate capacity to consent then they may well be involved in the decision making (parent absent or not).

As a friend of the family and child, doctors may ask for help contacting the parents, or for you to sit with the child etc. but that is probably about it.

I think it's unlikely that doctors would look to a friend or even close relative to express the parents wishes, even if there is a letter. Once admitted it is they who are responsible for treatment and healthcare of the child and only a parent or legal guardian has legal rights and powers in the decision making process. I think it's unlikely a letter will confer those to someone else.

 

[knewboater]

Within the child protection policy (look at the one your sailing club has on it`s notice board ,if you have cadets) it states that all children that do not have parents present when they are taking part in club activities,should have a signed declaration from the parents giving permission and naming another person to look after their child for them.(not exact words but near) so the police have permission to ask for your note from the parents.
Must be a good thing these days when crime seems rife and insurance is costly.

 

[DavenHelen]

[ QUOTE ]
Both times we were issued with a 'stop and search' ticket.

[/ QUOTE ]

It would be interesting to know what the reason given was (should be on the ticket according to the PACE rules)?

 

[jordanbasset]

Re your post

"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..."

I know you have not said this but I think some of the reactions of others that this appears the beginning of the end for our civil rights and the introduction of a police state is a little pessimistic.

We do not know the reason for them coming aborad, could be a whole number. Perhaps one of them was new to the unit and needed training. Perhaps they had info and wanted to check something out. Perhaps they were bored . Perhaps they wanted to reassure the boating community of a visible police presense. The thing is we do not know. All we do know is that they were polite and respectful. The fact they requested permission does not mean they did not have a power to search, could be that they did not want to exercise it if they could get cooperation - far better in my opinion. Wonder if they had not asked, used a power and searched the boat. Would people be then saying why didn't they just ask first? I am not saying they did have a power to search in these circmstance, just that again we do not know.

Having had an experience of a boat being searched in another countryI wish it had these two searching.

Again this is not aimed at you as I did find your post very measured and actually took it as a good news story -

 

[DavenHelen]

I think a lot of responses are more to Chrusty's second post about the polices rights.

 

[fireball]

Quite simply ...

a letter from the parents - means nothing, however, by asking the question they can guage the reactions of the adults and children onboard - this could indicate if something was wrong ..

if you (as a parent) allow your child to go with a friend it is your responsibility to ensure your child is not at undue risk - FFS would you let your child go away with a complete stranger ??

All this talk of court cases appears to be the way the UK is going - there is less trust and understanding in case of accidents - should've/could've/would've doesn't resolve anything .... if you're that far into blame culture then you should personally check out what activities your child will be doing ... (out comes the bubblewrap) ....

 

[PilotWolf]

So by the same token does that mean that all the letters of authority from parents to schools, ATC/CCF units, Scouts, etc are also not valid?

When we were at school all we did was take home the letter with the tear off bit for our parents to sign which we took back! In the ATC the cadets parents had to sign in there blue book (the name of which I cant remember) against which activities they were allowed to take part in or indeed weren't.

Maybe its different for organised groups?

W.

 

[l'escargot]

That's a slightly different situation to that of a private individual. I am a cadet instructor and that letter is of use only to me, it gives me information and authority and I know it is valid - it is given directly to me by a parent and is an agreement between me and them. It has no value if I show it to anyone else as they have no proof of it's authenticity - again, who is to say I didn't fill it in and sign it myself.

 

[pmyatt]

I get where you are coming from but why aren't they practising their skills on Service owned property. They have 17 Port and Maritime Regiment at Hythe and also all the Service yachts at the Joint Service Sail Training Centre at Gosport. I have just retired from the MOD in Cyprus and our SAR crews there regularly ask to drop the winchman on passing ships or private motor vessels, but that is a bit different from being boarded by Police/Customs. Perhaps the perceived problem stems from the fact that a proportion of the previously wilco population now no longer trust the Police in the way they did before /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[GazzaUK]

[ QUOTE ]
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!




[/ QUOTE ]

Yes...you shouldve said 'the pigs'!