November 27
"On Wednesday 3 November I was driving along the Embankment towards the City when a police constable stepped out into the road and flagged me down..."
Order of Kilopi
November 27
"On Wednesday 3 November I was driving along the Embankment towards the City when a police constable stepped out into the road and flagged me down..."
Established Member
Wow.
By the way, how many cameras does the UK have in it again? It's definetely a lot more Big Brotherish over there...
Established Member
Wow. That's kind of scary.
Established Member
A "locking blade"? What the heck is a "locking blade" anyway? And didn't the fellow have a right to call a lawyer?
Established Member
you have got to be kidding me!
Honored Member
Well, let's not forget who Tony Blair's close friend in North America is. Perhaps Ashcroft resigned in order to eventually accept a post in Britain. Old John would say that, based on the article, the security needs beefing up!
Order of Kilopi
2000---Project Headstart?...It is only since the Terrorism Act of 2000...
Order of Kilopi
Four million CCTV cameras watch public. UK has the highest level of surveillanceOriginally Posted by Andromeda321
Yikes!
Established Member
I'd just love to post a proper reply about that article, but (a) it would be highly political, and (b) it would offer further grounds to lock me up and throw away the key without charge, for being one of those dangerous "dark forces" that Mr. Blunkett thinks is out to get him.
Established Member
Okay trying to comment on this without my political bias showning.
Firstly the terrorism act 2000...
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/terrorism/govprotect/legislation/#Terrorism%20Act%202000%20(TACT)
Bear in mind that the UK has been subject to IRA attacks since the early 70s, although that appears to be resolving itself somewhat. And without wanting to sound overly inflamatory, terrorism did not start on the 11th of September 2001.
Secondly the Spectator has a political agenda that could best be described as against the Labour government. In addition the editor of this magazine is one Boris Johnson. As I'm unsure of what to say about him and stay within the remit of the board, I'll point you to a search of the BBC's website...
http://newssearch.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/....y=0&go=go
Cheers
John
Established Member
Well, when it comes to pointing out possible bias, all that really needs to be said is the fact that Boris is a Conservative MP, really.
Established Member
Being from the west side of the pond, I'm not familiar with England's politics, so I don't know who is biased against what, but I'll note that this article reads to me as if it were exaggerated. There are lots of details that could never be proven or refuted. (Among other things, it is quite convenient for the authors sake that the tape was blank.)
There may well be police abuses left and right, but this article, in my opinion, does nothing to prove it.
Established Member
Though not on the scale of the report, back in early '98, I was passing through Brussels airport on my way to the Congo. Passing through security, the official asked if I had a knife in my bag, which I did (a Leatherman - kind of a Super Swiss Army knife for those who don't know). She asked if it had a locking blade, which it also did. I was then told locking blades are illegal in Belgium and I would have to check the item in.
Great a small knife goes into the belly of a 747 and I'm landing in a 3rd World country - not likely to see it again.
Back to security and she asks of I had another knife in my bag. I did (a smaller, non-locking version I was bringing for a friend). I almost lost it there. Why didn't they see this the first time? I guess I didn't volunteer it, but since the issue was with locking blades, it didn't seem relevant. Anyway, they let me go with that. Thankfully this was pre9/11.
Oh yeah, my knife actually made it back to me in Kinshasa.
Established Member
How average Briton is caught on camera 300 times a dayFour million CCTV cameras watch public. UK has the highest level of surveillance
Yikes!
I'm caught on a camera 300 times a day. I wonder how many of those i've been doing something i shouldn't be 8-[
Order of Kilopi
Quite right; thanks for putting it in proper perspective.
Yes, while it's difficult for non-residents to know what's-what and who's who, the article's author, Nicky Samengo-Turner, is a player in the racing world....Secondly the Spectator has a political agenda that could best be described as against the Labour government. In addition the editor of this magazine is one Boris Johnson...
I've always admired the freeness of the British press, in all its incarnations, vs. the political stranglehold the U.S. press and media seems to be suffering under lately.
If anyone feels the inclination to spy on me whilst I'm doing nothing...then, that's their problem, not mine???
Get a life of your own!!!
Order of Kilopi
Are these cameras noticeable to the public, or are they generally hidden from view?
Established Member
Both really. Some of the outdoors ones are very obvious indeed, mounted on top of a big yellow van with "POLICE CAMERA UNIT" written on it. Some are much less obvious, and disguised as lamposts. And then there are speed cameras which are another thing altogether.
Bigger pubs have a couple of cameras, and almost all shops do, banks too. I think most people in the UK accept them as part of life, and just get on with theirs. Mostly they are there in case there is trouble and evidence is needed for the courts.
Cheers
John
Member
All CCTV cameras in the UK have to be easily seen to the public ( speed cameras for example have to be marked with Dayglo stripes) and must carry a sign naming their operator and an address where you can arrange to view their footage if you wish to. Failure to comply with these requirements means the footage will, usually, be ignored if the authorities try to use it in court against you.I still don`t like it though.
Order of Kilopi
Itīs worrisome to see this kind of thing happening in places acknowledged by Freedom.
Established Member
I've been searched by the police before, but that was back in the days when it was Irish terrorism which was the one to watch out for, when buildings in London and elsewhere were being smashed up by lorry bombs.
I just let them get on with it.
It is illegal to carry a knife in Britain by the way.
Speed cameras? I've found a perfect way to deal with them.
Just stick to the speed limit.
Order of Kilopi
Then I suppose swords and cutlasses are completely out of the question.
Traffic cameras are proliferating at break-neck speed here in the U.S., with the fines being split between municipalities (2/3) and the cameras' providers (1/3), who seem quite adept at manipulating the flash-time of the intermediate 'yellow' light, between the absolutes of 'red' and 'green'.
Established Member
Security shouldn't be a problem if you have nothing to hide--just don't carry [insert illegal item/substance here], and the security personnel behave in a scrupulously professional manner at all times.
True!!
Can be extended to if you don't want trouble with the police, always cooperate with them when they are doing their job, and don't break the law!
Order of Kilopi
A colleague explained to me that he could carry around his bat'leth, because it is not a concealable weapon.Then I suppose swords and cutlasses are completely out of the question.
I guess the same works for broadswords and big double-edged battleaxes.
Order of Kilopi
Ah, 'concealable' being the key. I'd pictured some enforcer trying to arrest the Queen as she was knighting someone.
Established Member
You're not allowed to carry bladed weapons above a certain minimal length (around 4cm, if memory serves, but I've a feeling that may be wrong) without due purpose. Its ok to buy a 12" butcher's knife from John Lewis and take it home, but carrying it around "just in case" is illegal.
I'm fairly sure that the Queen has a legitimate explanation for her sword ownership...
Order of Kilopi
The US leaves that to the States to decide on max length, but it would seem the average in the more civilized states is around 4 inches. Some of the states with more wilderness area or agrarian may allow something larger, so long as you're either out of a municipal area, or on your own property.
Established Member
Not true. A small 3 inch knife eg a penknife, swiss army knife, etc, is legal to carry except on school property, airports etc
For bigger blades:
(3) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) or (2) above to prove that he had good reason or lawful authority for having the article or weapon with him on the premises in question.
(4) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (3) above, it shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) or (2) above to prove that he had the article or weapon in question with him-
(a) for use at work,
(b) for educational purposes,
(c) for religious reasons, or
(d) as part of any national costume.
So it is perfectly legal for a chef to carry his knifes from home to work, but if he sticks the 9 inch carving knife through his belt and goes for a drink in the pub he's breaking the law.
Section 1 of the Prevention of Crime Act 1953 prohibits the possession in any public place of an offensive weapon without lawful authority or excuse. So your friend is wrong.
Established Member
Yes, there is some truth in that, but it still restricts hooligans.
I used to carry a knife.
An Olfa knife, as I worked for a company which supplied newspapers and typesetters with the old technology.
Re illegalities.. if the Old Bill catch you with a gun in Britain you will get banged up for five years minimum.
Guns in Britain are very bad news.
Established Member
Locking blades are illegal to carry, that's why he was arrested.
If he's going to go around 'tooled up' and then volunteers to be serached then that's his lookout.
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