Sunday, April 26, 2009

English cops who are clueless about the laws they're supposed to be enforcing

Here's an interesting video clip from Darren Pollard, an English filmmaker who was doing some yardwork in his garden when he noticed two cops conversing with a teen bicyclist in the street in front of Pollard's house. Pollard retrieves one of his cameras and begins filming the encounter, which was taking place on a public street, from his private property. The two officers notice Pollard recording them and decide to come onto his property uninvited and give him a good harassing for his trouble.




We think it's safe to say that Pollard decidedly wins this battle of intelligence and knowledge of the law. We especially love the look on the male cop's face when his sergeant reports back clearly over his radio that "It's not an offense". Notice, as well, the sullen looks on the faces of the chastised officers as they slink off without a word of apology for trampling all over Pollard's garden as well as his rights.

"Could I have your names, please?"

Excellent show, Mr. Pollard. Keep fighting for your rapidly-disappearing civil liberties over there.

Many, many things are becoming illegal in England these days, but videoing a public street from one's own property isn't yet a crime, at least for now.

Give the martinets who run that asylum awhile, and that may yet change, though.

1 comment:

John A said...

Many, many things are becoming illegal in England these days, but videoing a public street from one's own property isn't yet a crime, at least for now.

Well... Some places actually have made it a crime if video - or audio - recordings include on-duty police. On the idea that such could be analyzed by criminals, especially terrorists.

And yes, similar ideas have been floated here in the US. And the clueless have done it, law or no, including confiscation/destruction of photos of One Rockefeller and its iconic ice rink.