Look out, its the Rozzers!

[georann]

I live in a small village in the countryside so we don't often see police around our way. The few times I have encountered them, they have been a bit of a joke (such as one obviously towny cop stopping me and my mate to ask what we were doing like we were being suspicious, in walking boots on a country footpath next to our local ford on a sunday afternoon. Her response was "Bit odd going for a walk round here", to which we replied in disbelief "Is it really?")

But I've seen them a few times recently with the local crack down on countryside crime and I always seem to have sharp things on me! So far not been stopped but last night came pretty close. I was walking less than 100m from the village hall home with a rucksack full of knives and axe- admittedly a reasonably tactical looking rucksack. Now as a bit of background, let me add I was just leading a knife work exercise as I'm a scout leader, and although I'm only 18 I don't look like a yobo. This countryside copper drove up beside me and slowed down to check me out, I looked back and smiled, he saw my necker and off he popped. Glad to see they're doing their jobs I guess, but glad I didn't have to stop and explain!

So what's your experience like with the police in the countryside whilst out adventuring?

 

[Stringmaker]

Firstly, it's good to see a chap of 18 on here in the first place; well done you.

Secondly, I guess I'm lucky in that I haven't had any encounters with the Poliss whilst I've been tooled up with sharps.

The only time that I do transport them is when I am driving to/from the woodland site where I do my volunteering so at least I have due cause. I bet some of the other lads will be along with some tales in no time.

 

[Harvestman]

Was briefly stopped when walking along the canal, by an officer who had seen me cut a stick with a knife. "I believe you might be carrying a knife, sir"
"That's right officer, and another one in my bag, and a saw, and an axe. I'm bushcrafting, I need cuttiing tools for working wood"
"Oh, that's ok then sir" and a chat about outdoor activities followed.

I'm paraphrasing the conversation, obviously, but it was entirely friendly and I never felt threatened or harrassed. He was just doing his job, and I was being no threat to anybody.

I've also worked for the police in an admin capacity, so had chances to ask officers about their approach and attitudes, and have yet to meet a policeman with a negative attitude to knives as tools.

 

[georann]

Haha thanks. I've been here a fair while (even longer than you!) but I'm still very much learning! Try and put back a few interesting bits and advice I've picked up when I have time around Uni etc!

 

[Stringmaker]

Yes I noticed you outrank me in terms of membership!

I think any encounter with the law depends on context and attitude from both sides, as Harvestman demonstrates.

 

[hog]

Isle of Man..never encountered a policeman outside a town yet, certainly never been stopped or questioned by one. Perhaps its because its a small island.

 

[Robbi]

and they still use the birch i believe

Once saw the tallest policeman i've ever seen in a pub in Port St. Mary, he must have been 7 foot tall and carried a great big stick / baton ! i came whizzing round a corner and bumped into his belt buckle !!

 

[Paul_B]

Questioned a copper mate on knives once. Wasn't happy talking abt it but kinda had the attitude that you learn who are wrong'uns and stop them. Also mentioned reason to carry but backpacking was not sufficient reason. I guess at the end of the day it's the cps who decides on prosecutions. The rest is annoying inconvenience if you get stopped.

 

[demographic]

Used to get stopped and searched a few times when ambling home from late night parties and mates houses in the dead of night. That was in town and no worries. Never had anything I shouldn't have anyway.

After a certain age they bother you a lot less and being fair to them its their job.
Sometimes they stop you just to see what your responses to their questions will be, give the right answers and its unlikely they will bother you again.



There's a certain... erm..demographic that they are on the lookout for and being young and male puts you right into it.
Being older and male seems better.

 

[British Red]

I was once given a ride to the station for refusing to answer stupid questions at three in the morning by a jumped up wooden top.

His opening salvo of "where do you think you are going at this time of night sonny" did not endear him to me, so he got the full barack room lawyer routine "Why do you want to know?" etc.

Once he got me to the station I registered a complaint that I would not discuss with the custody sergeant and demanded to see the duty inspector. Knowing the name of the chief constable and referring to the PCC didn't hurt either. I had nothing better to do with my evening and one of us was sadder and wiser after that. It wasn't me (switching from Devon brogue to best public school accent freaked him out too!)

 

[Fraxinus]

Got to agree with you demographic, used to get stopped a lot when younger (mostly due to driving a battered MK1 Escort) but every encounter I have had was fine. I am always polite and honest with them, so no drama's.
If you watch any of the cop shows on tv the people who get most grief are the gobby ones...I tend to think they get what they deserve okenest:.

Keep sharps out of public sight, don't be a nuisance to anyone and you will be fine (oh steer away from wearing hoodies, they act as a trouble magnet even if you are not! )

Rob.

 

[andybysea]

I was once walking out from my home towards Strathaven moors it was about 10pm and dark, the road is very rural with lots of gates along the way that lead into farmers fields, about 30 mins into walk i saw the lights of a car(the only lights at all) so i stood off the road and lent up against a 5 bar gate to a field and put my head down instinctively as the vehicle past so as not to get the full glare of the lights thus losing my night vision,as i didnt fancy stumbling aobut till it returned,next thing i know i hear brake lights slam on and the car reverse, id not even moved, as it got level with me i saw it was a Police car as they put on the inside light and i was obviously now looking at the vehicle to see what the hell was going on, ''Where are you going'' i was asked im off out for a walk and overnight camp ''why are you doing that and where are you going'' its my hobby and im going up on the moors,''why are you standing by that gate and why did you put your head down as we went past'' because i didnt want to get run over and so i could see once you'd drove past me,anyway i was informed that there had been farm break in's was asked what was in my pack,and my name and address then let on my way.

 

[Shingsowa]

A client on a first aid course this weekend told me a tale of him being stopped and questioned by North Wales Police whilst he was on a riverbank (near an A road) leading an open-boat session for work. He had a blunt-tip rescue knife on his PFD, and had literally just stepped fro the boat, but the officer still thought this wasn't a justification.

Personally I have had little trouble (there is almost always an MRT rucksack in my boot, complete with rescue knife and a couple of pyros) in this area. Most officers are interested enough if you can enter into conversation, and I know a good deal of the local CBMs etc by face, and they know what I do with work so it makes life easier...

 

[salad]

When I lived in the mendips they all used to drink down the local pub and were always OK, especially when there was a lock in

 

[TurboGirl]

I'm matey with the local rural crime officer and a few of the firearm squad live/ drink in the locality. I get on great as long as they're 5 steps in front of me when theres any hassle about Nah, they're good folk for the most part, doing a difficult and upsetting job. Theres a big increase in rural crime atm.

 

[Faz]

As a cop myself it's interesting to see people's points of view. Obviously all officers are different much like people are different.

I police both rural, town and city and come across all sorts but I treat everyone with respect.

I get paid to be nosey and make no apologies to people for asking them to account for their presence, sometimes I stop people just to speak with them which can freak them out.

Some do have an instant problem if I stop them and ask what they are doing but this will be between 2am and 5am (usually) and going back to me being nosey, I explain its my job and crack on.

Some will refuse to give their details, which is fine, I don't need them. If I decide to search or they give me a reason to search, I still don't need their details.

If I found something I had to act on, then I do need your details and if you don't provide them, I take you to the station and eventually find out who you are.

As long as I do it that way, people can complain all they like.

I love stopping and chatting to people out and about in the more rural areas as some will have air rifles which are an interest of mine. Loads I have stopped have had a knife of some sort or another. None have ever give me cause for concern and I enjoy meeting people like that.

The last man I saw with an axe tried to hit me with it so that doesn't count as for camping use!

If anyone has any questions, I'm happy to answer on here.

 

[British Red]

I get paid to be nosey and make no apologies to people for asking them to account for their presence.

If anyone has any questions, I'm happy to answer on here.

Okay a question

Do people (under the law) need to account for their presence somewhere that they are legally entitled to be?

 

[Jackdaw]

Okay a question

Do people (under the law) need to account for their presence somewhere that they are legally entitled to be?

Exactly how is the police officer to determine whether you are somewhere you are legally entitled to be with if you do not answer their questions?

From my time in the police I would usually be asking someone to account for their actions/presence because some recent criminal activity in the area otherwise it would probably be because I was being nosey; which I took to be part of the job. If I was investigating an incident and the individual fitted the description (if we had one) then I would be more than justified in asking questions. If they refused to answer and my spider sense went off then they might find themselves back at the station so that I could verify their details.

It is just a lot easier for everyone involved if you are open and give honest answers. The police are not out to get you. They are there to protect and serve their local community and I make no appologies for being nosey and asking questions. It used to be considered good policing.

 

[British Red]

It also used to be considered good policing for a police officer to address a member of the public as "sir" Jackdaw. A polite enquiry, with an explanation as to its relevance is one thing, a terse and impolite demand for information from a public servant is something else entirely.

Being asked to account for actions is one thing, that was not the question I asked. What I asked was,

Do people (under the law) need to account for their presence somewhere that they are legally entitled to be?

An e.g. would be does a person, on a public street, need to account for their presence there when accosted by a a rude, unpleasant officer who prefaced the echange with "oi, you"?

 

[petrochemicals]

I've got to say that there is the law (which is an bottom, as I'll explain later) and the judicial established done thing, which as a law unto itself.

Page one British Law

A guilty act and a guilty mind, as to the infraction of law. You have to have committed a contravenance to the letter of the law in full knowledge, for it to be a crime.

There has to be an injury to persons or society, ie offence taken at such a large knife, without good reason.

The done thing of the society is the accepted way, so in the country, an axe in the back of your car is accepted as it is the done thing, to use it to chop wood, which is the good reason.
The courts and police will try to change the law under there own burdensome weight, that doesn't neceserily mean that's legal, just they will get there way if you are unwilling to contest. What the law says is far far beneath the facade that the authorities would like you to believe. And if it contradicts the magna carta or anti slavery legislation (the job seeker forced to work at poundland for free) the so called law is found to be illegal and unjust. You just have to go through the mill.

As for accounting for your presence, it sounds alot like the kids in tottenham, and what the authorities would like you to believe.

If an injury to a person is a severe invasion of their life alot of stress, and waisted time, then the law can hold itself illegal or be a law unto itself.

Edit. On the otherhand if your ego gets the better of you, and you end up brandishing even a folded 2 inch pen knife, for egotistical reasons, intimidating someone on your own land in full knowledge, it can be classed "technically" as assault with a deadly weapon, without physical injury, because you had a guilty mind, guilty act against the done thing, without even considering whether you have been trespassed against, or whether you had propper reason.