Police spotting (junction watch)

Ok, i seemed to have provoked some strong feelings here, so i'd like to explain what i meant.

this info is from the Police authority ( it is useful to know your rights) :

*"you can be stopped and searched anywhere when an officer believes you are carrying:

drugs, weapons or stolen property

items which could be used to commit a crime

items which could be used to commit an act of terrorism.

The officer will ask you for your name, address and date of birth. You do not have to give these unless you are being arrested or reported for an offence.

Before you are searched, the officer must take all reasonable steps to ensure that you understand what law they are using and your rights."*

ok, so if one had jumped a red, then that would be an offence, and they would have the right to ask you for your details. They still wouldn't have any grounds for searching you if you politely and simply stated that you were carrying no ID at that time.

The key point is, this would be one of those times where how the situation proceeded from there would depend very much on a number of variables. How polite you are to them, how well-spoken and confident you are, and sadly, how white and middle-class and middle aged you are.

i readily accept that antagonising the Police will get you nowhere and probably arrested or at least detained. i certainly wasn't trying to suggest otherwise. it's pretty well known!

I have been arrested a few times when i was younger - possesion,assault ( a punch-up) -nothing major, and i certainly never ended up in court over these things. i have also been stopped in cars etc more times than i can remember over the years. again, not for anything serious.
However, it does mean i have my fair share of experience dealing with the police, like everyone else here.

In recent years, now i am slightly overweight and in my 30s, and wear glasses and look respectable, i have found that my dealings with the Police, when they occur, tend to go much more in my favour. I have been stopped a couple of times for minor cycling misdemeanors ( riding on pavement , jumping a red), and in those situations, i have been polite and contrite, and have always been sent on my way without it going any further. As well as politeness, a certain (under)tone of voice that hints at ' i know my rights and i won't be taking any shit if you infringe them' also seems to help. They get a bit wary about white middle class blokes in their 30s, because they never know which middle-class bloke in his 30s is a solicitor or lawyer of some kind. I'm not suggesting that this would stop them making an arrest in a serious situation, of course not, but for very minor stuff, they are much less likely to a) want the hassle, b) suspect the white middle class bloke of anything else more sinister.

and finally, as was said above - not being on the electoral role is proof of nothing more sinister than having moved recently.

So, that's what i was getting at. I'm sorry if i wound people up, i didn't mean to, i was a bit pissed. However, i stand by what i have said above, i.e: it wouldn't be hard to get off a red light ticket with the right approach.

yours ever,

nimhbus.