Was prompted to write a dedicated thread for this one, seeing as I just made a passing mention to it in a reply to Cloggsy in the Pennine section. It refers to the letter in the new MCN entitled 'New Police Tactics?'.
It details the rider's belief that he has witnessed new tactics employed by police in the Helmsley area using unmarked cars to bait bikers into racing/keeping up with them. He describes an odd series of events involving a Subaru Impreza which kept playing yoyo with him, shooting off when he got close, then (due to his suspicions making him stick to the limit) dropping back down 'til he caught up. Rinse and repeat. He even mentions them apparently (he does not categorcially state but it is implied) speed through a village. He says he then got close enough to see blue lights, a hi-vis jacket on the driver and a heads-up display of some sort in the car. Go check out the paper for the full thing.
I suppose I have 2 questions, both assuming his presumptions are correct and he is not mistaken.
1. How on earth can this be legal?! Surely a police force cannot actively pursue entrapment-like policies designed to bait bikers...do we have laws concerning this or am I getting confused with the US due to Hollywood stuff?
2. Opinions come in left, right and centre from bikers supporting, with qualification, plans to improve safety in all areas: Retesting, speed cameras in identifiable black spots as opposed to cash cows, police presence to catch non-speeding offences, advanced training. It seems we are at the forefront (barring the ******s who stunt through speed cameras of course) of accepting and even supporting sensible legislation in all manner of areas. We seem to offer common sense solutions, accepting that improvement needs to be made in some areas. If people like us with a little bit of nouse can see all this, why on earth does it appear that the proportional balance is not borne out by those with the power...where are the people like 'us' working for the system and how does intelligent, pragmatic debate get won over consistently by idiots?
Sigh...I hope the letter isn't true, but I wouldn't be surprised. Just wound me up that's all, felt like venting impotent frustration
