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You're right, sadly. The complaints system is a mess and forces do investigate themselves, it's true. Having brought in the region of 100 police complaints, I've seen very little 'success'. But sometimes success depends on your measure.
The point about them investigating themselves almost negates complaining.
I was arrested and dragged (no exaggeration) handcuffed off a bus in Camden some years back - they used those stiff one piece cuffs that nearly break your wrist if you don't hold your elbows together with your hands out of front of you - as I was being dragged down the stairs by the centre of the cuffs there was plenty of opportunity for the police officers to make sure my arms went out of position - and I can tell you it was pretty painful, I thought my wrists would snap.
As I was manhandled down the stairs by my neck and arms (I was not resisting) my precious Behringer Ultrafex II came down the stairs after me and was damaged beyond repair (not the world's most expensive piece of studio audio equipment but it took me a long time to save up for it I used it a lot back then and could hardly afford to replace it) - I was held outside the bus in the street with everyone on the bus staring at me as well as well as every passer by as there were around 20 or 30 officers, dogs, a couple of cars and a van.
I was held painfully cuffed with a police officer holding the middle part of the cuff for around 40 minutes, the police officer paid no attention to me and was generally looking away and talking to other officers as he held the cuffs, when I did try and get his attention with a very British "excuse me could I talk to someone . . . . . " he would simply shake the cuffs sending me almost into spasm with pain - it certainly did the job to silence me.
Eventually the thick as pig shit police force realised they had got the wrong person - the two people who they were after and they had already arrested (for running through a tube train nicking bags, then jumping on a bus in Camden) were kind enough to point out numerous times to the absolutely indifferent police officers that I was nothing to do with them - and I was 'de-arrested' (a word I had not know about until then, I thought the officer was being sarcastic, but it is apparently the correct term).
No appology, just 'right you are de-arrested'.
Anyhow to cut a long story short, eventually got back home with my now smashed Behringer Ultrafex II, fucked wrists and a small cut on the back of my neck and didn't think about complaining I was just glad to get out of there. About a week later I did decide to try and get some kind of closure on the whole (fairly traumatic) event, perhaps an apology or even a replacement Behringer Ultrafex II ?
Well that is when it became clear that this route simply does not exist, it is only when you attempt to complain (I went down to Kentish Town Police Station were the officers were from) that you realise they are simply not going to play that game. You get told to come back at 7, you do, the officer you want to see went at 6.50 you are told, they then say come back tomorrow at 2, you do, 'no you want the 'J' shift, they start at 10.15, back at 10.15, 'no, no you want to speak to the desk sergeant on the 'B' shift, come back friday after 4.00, you do, 'no, he went home at 2.00 - etc etc and so it goes.
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@tynan - my mate did manage to get about £20K compensation from the police, but it took about 15 years. He was battered during the miners' strike, and the whole thing was on film (moving/still), and he had umpteen witnesses.
Shortly after receiving the pay-off, a number of mysterious cars and individuals started lurking round his flat in Hackney, and after a number of freak-out incidents, he felt compelled to move away to the South coast.
Even the ones that go to Hendon with good intentions come out as pigs.
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I'm constantly amazed by the complete randomness of law enforcement in the UK.
I think it's a cops on cycles thing - this morning I was going by the National Portrait Gallery (Trafalgar Square) and on my green light 2 cops on cycles f****ing cut me up performing an illegal right turn into the pedestrian crossing right in front of me - they looked like they were trying really hard not to fall off.
I yelled a pleasant "That set a good example!" before departing.
Heh heh heh.
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were there ghosts driving the car?
Probably emotionally dead.
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If you had noted their badge numbers (of the first set of nursery rhyme characters), then asked the second set to officially NOTE your concerns to them, you could have discussed this with the local Chief Inspector at a later date, and I promise that those comedians would never ever do that shit again.
I don't like people misusing their powers to intimidate. There are ways to combat that. -
think I mentioned this before.. walking down hackney with my pug frame to Kiwi Cycle... police car stop me and ask me to sit in the back and told me that he is holding me for handling stolen goods...
He was rude as fuck...
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politely taking their numbers, although royally pissing them off, usually makes them behave a bit better.....makes them unsure to your social standing ...is he a lawyer cycling home? is he clever enough to make a complaint?
Absolutely. They have no idea who you are. As much as it fucks you off you just have to stay cool, kindly ask for their names and badge numbers (even ask them to write it down for you if you don't have a pen and paper) and go on your way when they let you go. It'll definitely piss them and they'll most probably shit one. Then go to the local police station straight away (if you have time) and say you'd like to make a complaint.
What eeeehhh said too. Getting up their noses is definitely the key. Even if they deny it, I'm sure their superiors know they're cunts and will act accordingly. You'd hope so anyway...
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hehe - they were doing a stop and search on some yoots as i cycled past from drinks last night
one of the twatty plod shout at me to 'get off the fucking bike' which eleicited a quick response of 'not till they teach you some manners at hendon you twat' as i swooped away into the night
yea, take that pigs :^]
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Well i probably should have taken their details, however i think i was to wound up by them stopping me . . . i got pretty verbal with them, mainly because i couldnt quite believe what they were telling me and as such didnt really show them the "respect" due to an officer of the law, and was giving them a good piece of my mind about what a waste of my tax money this was, and where the f@@k were they when my bike got stolen etc etc . . . i'm not really pissed off about it, more incredulous and amused that it happened, this city never ceases to amaze me.
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Absolutely. They have no idea who you are. As much as it fucks you off you just have to stay cool, kindly ask for their names and badge numbers (even ask them to write it down for you if you don't have a pen and paper) and go on your way when they let you go.
Asking for their number might well get you a "right you're nicked you cheeky fucker" - you will probably be taken for a public order offensive and even resisting arrest/assaulting a police officer.
'll definitely piss them and they'll most probably shit one.
They will laugh at you.
Then go to the local police station straight away (if you have time) and say you'd like to make a complaint.
Make it, it will get you nowhere, your report will most likely never get past the wastepaper basket - let alone get to some disciplinary hearing.
tynan
lpg
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hippy
BringMeMyFix
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Aroogah
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About
Please read... cannot believe this just happened after West End Drinks
Posted by
@vinylvillain
CTC's take on lighting up. They probably could have had you for not having reflectors etc! It is one of those 'Argue one point and fail on several other' scenarios when you ride fixed. i'm sure your bike is lacking the relevant reflectors front and rear - and if made post early 90's, pedal reflectors too!