Police harassment, UK style

I thought you guys might appreciate this from uk.rec.cycling -

http://groups.google.com.au/group/uk...2d6d955060f2aa

http://tinyurl.com/3639pe

Lovely outcome! On that subject though, does anyone know of the laws
regarding what Australian police can and can't ask you for if you're
stopped by them and what (if anything) you can ask for from them?

Graeme

Pppppwhhahaahahahahahahaah! Classic!


--
treadly&me

Graeme Dods Wrote:
I thought you guys might appreciate this from uk.rec.cycling -

http://tinyurl.com/2hx54x

http://tinyurl.com/3639pe

Lovely outcome! On that subject though, does anyone know of the laws
regarding what Australian police can and can't ask you for if you're
stopped by them and what (if anything) you can ask for from them?

Graeme
From Vic Legal Aid:
http://www.vla.vic.gov.au/upload/cl.police_powers.pdf
Generally the police do not have the right to demand your name
and address

without a reason. The police must tell you why they want your
name and address.

You can ask for their reasons.

*Note: *The police have the right to demand your name and address
without a reason

when you a

• driving a car, motor bike, boat or push bike

• on the tram, train, bus or on public transport property. Ticket
inspectors (people

who work on public transport checking that everyone has the right
ticket) can also

ask for your name and address.

• in a hotel or licensed premises (a place where you can buy
alcohol). Staff in a

hotel or licensed premises can also ask for your age.

It is a criminal offence to refuse to give your name and address,
or to give a false

name and address to the police or public transport officers. You
can be fined for

these offences by a court.

The police must also tell you their name, identification number,
the name of the

police station where they work and their rank. The police must
give you this

information in writing, when you ask. This information may be
useful later.

The police can be fined for not giving you their name,
identification number, police

station and rank. You need to make a complaint for this to
happen. A lawyer can help

you do


--
rooman

Graeme Dods Wrote:
I thought you guys might appreciate this from uk.rec.cycling -


Now that was very good.... "Sgt....."


--
MikeyOz

On May 7, 4:10 pm, Graeme Dods wrote:
I thought you guys might appreciate this from uk.rec.cycling -

http://groups.google.com.au/group/uk..._frm/thread/50...

http://tinyurl.com/3639pe

Lovely outcome! On that subject though, does anyone know of the laws
regarding what Australian police can and can't ask you for if you're
stopped by them and what (if anything) you can ask for from them?

Graeme

It seems like the poor ******* was trying to check a possible bike
theft, and got sidetracked by a smartarse.

Donga

On May 7, 3:42 pm, Donga wrote:

It seems like the poor ******* was trying to check a possible bike
theft, and got sidetracked by a smartarse.

The possible bike theft angle only comes in fairly late on in the
conversation, after the "you shouldn't be in that lane". Some numpties
in the UK police do have a fairly uninformed view of what cyclists are
allowed to do or where they are allowed to go. They tend to go by "gut
feeling", e.g. there's a cycle path therefore you must use that rather
than the road. The only difference between them and the general public
is that the police have the power to "enforce" their opinions as if
they were law.

I'm all in favour of police having powers to address genuine problems,
but I'm even more in favour of the public knowing where those powers
begin and end so they know if they're just being hassled for the hell
of it.

Graeme

On May 7, 6:43 pm, Graeme Dods wrote:
On May 7, 3:42 pm, Donga wrote:

It seems like the poor ******* was trying to check a possible bike
theft, and got sidetracked by a smartarse.

The possible bike theft angle only comes in fairly late on in the
conversation, after the "you shouldn't be in that lane". Some numpties
in the UK police do have a fairly uninformed view of what cyclists are
allowed to do or where they are allowed to go. They tend to go by "gut
feeling", e.g. there's a cycle path therefore you must use that rather
than the road. The only difference between them and the general public
is that the police have the power to "enforce" their opinions as if
they were law.

I'm all in favour of police having powers to address genuine problems,
but I'm even more in favour of the public knowing where those powers
begin and end so they know if they're just being hassled for the hell
of it.

Graeme

Seeing a guy in work clothes and boots riding a nice racing bike would
make me think theft.

I don't think a fella who 'teaches' police can be too clever in trying
to catch them out, do you? I wouldn't read too much into this boastful
little tale.

Donga

On May 7, 7:00 pm, Donga wrote:

Seeing a guy in work clothes and boots riding a nice racing bike would
make me think theft.

I don't think a fella who 'teaches' police can be too clever in trying
to catch them out, do you? I wouldn't read too much into this boastful
little tale.

Donga

I would. Perhaps it helps that I've read uk.rec.cycling for years and
have seen many of his postings. He's a long time contributor who is
well known as URC's cycling policeman and not given to idle boasting
or fanciful tales.

Graeme

Graeme Dods Wrote:
On May 7, 7:00 pm, Donga wrote:

Seeing a guy in work clothes and boots riding a nice racing bike
would
make me think theft.

I don't think a fella who 'teaches' police can be too clever in
trying
to catch them out, do you? I wouldn't read too much into this
boastful
little tale.

Donga

I would. Perhaps it helps that I've read uk.rec.cycling for years and
have seen many of his postings. He's a long time contributor who is
well known as URC's cycling policeman and not given to idle boasting
or fanciful tales.


I concur, and don't forget that cycling in normal attire is more
prevalent in the UK than it is here.


--
EuanB

EuanB Wrote:
I concur, and don't forget that cycling in normal attire is more
prevalent in the UK than it is here.
"wataboutthawerkers?.....!!...."
yeah...toss the lycra.... I like the visual of steel cap boots ,
overalls and a four corner tied hanky on your head( a la Charlie Blake
) ...see a few like that ..(sans hanky) around Port Melb/Docklands
now and then

...everyone ride in whatever...just ride, and keep the nice plods
guessing...


--
rooman