One for the police on here

[Red Herring]

Originally Posted by MattCollins

That is a real scumbag method amongst others used by a minority of cops in this part of the world to threaten and intimidate. I have politely declined that offer a couple of times.

EDIT: PS. I am not out to offend anyone.

Care to expand on that? Sitting someone in the back of a police car to interview them or issue process it a perfectly legitimate action provided you don't force them to do it, and if you're in the situation where you are likely to want to force them into the back of a car they'd be wearing handcuffs and nicked! Most forces have a policy that the child locks will be kept on in all patrol cars. That's because we ever so sometimes put people there who might not want to come with us, and the risk and consequences of them opening a door whilst moving far exceed the odd occasion when an officer would be rude enough not to open a door for someone...

If someone has sat in the rear of the car voluntarily and they decide they want to get out then the only thing that will stop me opening the door for them is if I've arrested them. Failure to do so could cost me my job, and if you think I, or any other copper for that matter, think you or any other person we have stopped and not arrested is worth that you are much mistaken.
Of course it does beg the question why you might have been invited to sit in the back of a patrol car a couple of times?

Originally Posted by andyb

Thanks for all the help/advice. I think I'll advise my wife to drive to the nearest police station, after stopping to advise the officer what shes doing, if she gets stopped.

That's what I would think would be best too - but how many 'local police stations' does one person know?! E.G., unless I was in my home town I wouldn't have a clue where the nearest police station was, and I doubt if my Mrs even knows how to get to the local one!

I think that copper who asked the lone female to get in the back of his unmarked car must be pretty insensitive / unintelligent to be honest. Presumably he was a real copper but he should understand her reasons for not wanting to co-operate in that scenario.

I would certainly hope that my Mrs would not get in an unmarked car at the request of an un-uniformed 'police officer' but it is a difficult one for sure. On the one hand you wouldn't want to get done for failing to stop but on the other hand you can't be too careful these days

Red Herring I love your 'coppers hate arrogance almost as much as the public' statement I hope that was deliberately ambiguous!

I'm fairly sure they are allowed to acknowledge they are being pulled and pull over at a safe place for them (eg services, local nick etc)

Not sure where I heard this but I'm fairly sure it was somewhere reputable.

Originally Posted by Red Herring

if you think I, or any other copper for that matter, think you or any other person we have stopped and not arrested is worth that you are much mistaken.

+1
Hmmm my job and pension vs false imprisonment...let me decide

Originally Posted by Milky Bar Kid

and further to this, we had a guy who did custody visits at our station. He got himself a nice BMW, fitted it with blues in the grill and then carried around his "ID" card that he was issued with by our force. He got himself an el-cheapo high vis vest and then proceeded to stop vehicles.

Whilst this guy was doing it....well, because he's an idiot, you will get some who have sinister reasons for it.

I would not get out of my vehicle unless completely satisfied it was a real cop and would prbably drive to the nearest station.

ahhhhh Dangerous Daves new hobby has been un-earthed

Is Red Herring a Police officer or similar?

Some interesting stuff here... it never occurred to me as a potential problem?

What about being stopped on a Motorcycle? If I were a young lady (I'm not, I'm a young lad!), I wouldn't have any windows to do up, or doors to lock? Would it be the same thing, drive to somewhere safe and then stop for the 'officer'.

Ben.

Originally Posted by BournemouthBen

Is Red Herring a Police officer or similar?

Some interesting stuff here... it never occurred to me as a potential problem?

What about being stopped on a Motorcycle? If I were a young lady (I'm not, I'm a young lad!), I wouldn't have any windows to do up, or doors to lock? Would it be the same thing, drive to somewhere safe and then stop for the 'officer'.

Ben.

Yes he is, as am I and VT on this thread.

You would really have to aknowledge that they wanted you to stop or you run the risk of being booked with fail to stop...or having a squad of Traffic Cars about to TPAC you....

[Stu]

For those that have come across fake unmarked cars with blue lights, how convincing have they been?
I have been stopped twice by unmarked cars and once blue flashed at, but he didn't stop me.
1st was in daylight Black BMW 3 series, remember the altenating flashing headlights
2nd was at night silver Volvo and the amount of flashing blue lights lit the whole place up, both of these I wasn't in any doubt that they were real police, and the Officers were in uniform.
Another time was a Nissan Primera, officer not in uniform - I went home & called the local Police station and asked about the reg number. They didn't want to confirm for data protection reasons but more or less said that yes it was a police car.

[Red Herring]

Originally Posted by BournemouthBen

Is Red Herring a Police officer or similar?

Some interesting stuff here... it never occurred to me as a potential problem?

What about being stopped on a Motorcycle? If I were a young lady (I'm not, I'm a young lad!), I wouldn't have any windows to do up, or doors to lock? Would it be the same thing, drive to somewhere safe and then stop for the 'officer'.

Ben.

Hi Ben, yes I am.

Lets not start getting paranoid here, fake unmarked police cars are extremely rare, especially any that have any sinister intention and unless you're working for a security firm moving large amounts of money you're very unlikely to ever bump into one.

What might happen is that you could come across a rather keen young officer in a CID car who took exception to your wheelie/speed/hairstyle and wants to have a quick word, in which case if you're the slightest bit concerned follow the advice that has been given. Chances are if you do he will end up in more hot water than you. Alternatively it could be a real unmarked traffic car and trust me, you'll have no worries or doubts if that is the case. They do this for a living.

[Red Herring]

Originally Posted by carty

Red Herring I love your 'coppers hate arrogance almost as much as the public' statement I hope that was deliberately ambiguous!

It was... After I wrote it I did wonder if anyone would bite....it was obviously buried a bit deep in the text?