This kind of thing gives me the shivers.
Two disabled blokes were detained by UK police for suspiciously opening a white envelope and looking at police men in public view
It’s been asked about 20 times now when I’m going to London with the job and I’ve been wanting to put it off. Anything to avoid the steely stare of Airport Security.
YOUR RIGHTS UNDER SECTION 44 (Courtesy Liberty ):
- The police can only give you a pat down, remove outer clothes (eg jacket, hat), search your bags and have you empty your pockets
- You do not have to give your name and address
- You do not have to explain why you are there
- You are not allowed to flee the search, but you are not required to be actively compliant. You are allowed to ‘go limp’ as passive resistance during the search if you wish not to comply
- There is no permission to collect DNA data during the search
- You do not have to comply with any attempt to photograph or record you
- Women cannot be touched by male police during these searches
- Make notes about the officers searching you – name, number and police force
- Note the time and the events preceding the search
- Note the specific wording used by the police to explain their authority to search you
- Ask the police for the reason that they are searching you. Specifically, are they searching for terrorists or are they simply trying to deter, delay or inconvenience you?
God forbid you should be having a game in the pub and passing round a copy of the Compendium of Modern Firearms or something.
When I see this sort of stuff I’m always reminded of this by Martin Niemoller.
—
When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn’t a Jew.
When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.
—
As long as liberties are corroded in inches and not in miles people will sit by and let them go.
Game over, man.
That said – it’s not as if we’re losing anything here in NI. Just like the good old days…