Page 4 | Here we go again Woman arrested for sitting on a bench.

HolyBumoley · 10/01/2021 10:28

[quote Balhammom]@Treatscatscrave

I want harsher restrictions and know exactly what I’m asking for.

If you’re genuinely too stupid to appreciate the difference between a despotic regime and a major public heath emergency then you are there problem here.[/quote]
If you're genuinely too stupid to see why harsher restrictions are a spectacularly bad idea, then you are the problem here.

ThatIsNotMyUsername · 10/01/2021 10:29

You play the game ‘oh is that right officer?’ ‘I didn't know I couldn’t sit here and have a rest’ ‘oh well I’ll be in my way’ thanks officer - I guess you will be having a word with that gang of teens over there drinking cider and smoking weed?’

I saw a video of a police officer turning up to a flat in Scotland (someone must’ve called to say they were breaking lockdown) and asking who was in the house (woman, partner and two kids). The woman was pretty confrontational (full Mary Doll) and the officer started getting prickly and pissed off. She was yelling, he was gruffing and the upshot was the teenage daughter (who was just out of hospital) had a seizure (caused by the rumpus most likely).

Had the mum gone
‘Yes officer? No it’s just me, my partner and the two kids - girl just out of the hospital. Did someone say we were having a party or something? How daft - she’s just out of the Royal... mask up and have a look of you don’t believe me...’

So people really think that getting angry, confrontational and pissy and the police will say ‘sorry miss, apologies, I’ll be on my way’?

Goodbye2020Hello2021 · 10/01/2021 10:30

It doesn't matter what she did, does it? They shouldn't have approached her in the first place because she was doing nothing wrong.

The police can approach and talk to whoever they like.

AiryFairyMum · 10/01/2021 10:30

Sounds like she was being aggressive. People really need to be a bit more polite and they'd find the police much more cordial.

TheGreatWave · 10/01/2021 10:31

@Goodbye2020Hello2021

Seasalt- I think some of these coppers are having a hard on for giving people a hard time tbh You think? How do you know she didn’t kick off? How do you know whether or not she was breaking the rules in some way?

Ok so let's presume she broke a law, threatening behaviour, whatever, this does not mean that it is acceptable to just arrest people for sitting on a bench as many posters on here would like to see happen.

whittystitties · 10/01/2021 10:32

@ThatIsNotMyUsername

You play the game ‘oh is that right officer?’ ‘I didn't know I couldn’t sit here and have a rest’ ‘oh well I’ll be in my way’ thanks officer - I guess you will be having a word with that gang of teens over there drinking cider and smoking weed?’

I saw a video of a police officer turning up to a flat in Scotland (someone must’ve called to say they were breaking lockdown) and asking who was in the house (woman, partner and two kids). The woman was pretty confrontational (full Mary Doll) and the officer started getting prickly and pissed off. She was yelling, he was gruffing and the upshot was the teenage daughter (who was just out of hospital) had a seizure (caused by the rumpus most likely).

Had the mum gone
‘Yes officer? No it’s just me, my partner and the two kids - girl just out of the hospital. Did someone say we were having a party or something? How daft - she’s just out of the Royal... mask up and have a look of you don’t believe me...’

So people really think that getting angry, confrontational and pissy and the police will say ‘sorry miss, apologies, I’ll be on my way’?

I'd be fairly passed off if the plod turned up at my door to check who was in my house because of Covid

Some of you need counselling if you think that's ok

Fembot123 · 10/01/2021 10:32

@trevorandsimon

What is she had the virus and then sat on the bench? The virus can stay live on objects. The next person sits there and picks up the virus and the next etc.

Well then surely they’d deserve it, sitting on a BENCH!!

Bollss · 10/01/2021 10:32

Ah right so we allow ourselves to be threatened by police officers when we are doing nothing wrong and we call it "playing the game"
Sorry but no. Why should we put up with this? I don't get to harass people in my job because they're not doing what i think they should be doing, and if I did, I'd get sacked. What gives these officers the right to do it?

Do you REALLY not understand why people are getting angry when they're being accused of committing made up crimes?

I fail to believe that the police have nothing better to do than bully women, and it's becoming increasingly evident that this is what this is.

Moondust001 · 10/01/2021 10:33

If you’re genuinely too stupid to appreciate the difference between a despotic regime and a major public heath emergency then you are there problem here.
And if you are genuinely too stupid to realise that both cannot happen simultaneously, then you are the problem here. All that it requires for authoritarianism to flourish is that "laws" (and half of these things are not laws) are arbitrary, and that your right to dispute the arbitrariness are sanctioned. In other words, you can be arrested for sitting on a bench, and then arrested for asking where the law says that you cannot sit on a bench. The only difference between this and having someone place their knee on your neck for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, is degree.

When they come for you, who will be left to stand up for you? No police force can ever be perfect, but the quality of British policing has always been based on policing by consent. This is a fundamental difference between our police and many across the world - they are not an extension of the military. That doesn't always work, and we have seen examples of them being wielded as a weapon before. But this is the first time in British history that they have been used as a tool of intimidation against the general British Public. There is no putting that genie back in the bottle, and it won't be forgotten. These are ordinary people who are in now way breaking the law, and when saying that they aren't breaking the law is an arrestable offence, we are on very dangerous ground.

Radishesandcake · 10/01/2021 10:33

People sitting on benches are not the problem in any way. Why would people want the police cracking down on that or lone women getting arrested for that? If we don't question the police fining people for not breaking any laws they're going to abuse their powers more, it's their job to know the law well and keep the peace they shouldn't be advising people about guidance. The police have a place but it's not arresting people who are sat on their own on a bench not doing anything illegal.

Bollss · 10/01/2021 10:33

@Goodbye2020Hello2021

It doesn't matter what she did, does it? They shouldn't have approached her in the first place because she was doing nothing wrong.

The police can approach and talk to whoever they like.

Yes but talking to someone is not the same as trying to fine them and take their details, is it now? No. It's not.

Gurufloof · 10/01/2021 10:34

That woman was arrested for being a Dick basically

If the criteria for being arrested is being a dick then pretty much every person ever should have been arrested and virtually all teenagers.
Sadly being a dick is not illegal no matter how much you want it to be.

FightingWithTheWind · 10/01/2021 10:34

@trustthegenegenie it is an offence to refuse to give your name and details in order to avoid a fine, it is also a legal requirement to comply with the regulations. If the police officers felt that they were not doing that, and after giving verbal warnings they were still not moving on, then they have the power to issue a fine and if they do not give their details then they are committing an offence. Nobody was being asked to jump on one leg for ten seconds, there is no reason why that would be in the regulations, there is a reason for the regulations that are in place however.

Splodgetastic · 10/01/2021 10:34

@OhamIreally Maybe not arresting men, but I know of two relatives / acquaintances who have been asked to stop and account in their cars. Both very law abiding too. I feel like they pick easy targets.

Bollss · 10/01/2021 10:35

[quote FightingWithTheWind]@trustthegenegenie it is an offence to refuse to give your name and details in order to avoid a fine, it is also a legal requirement to comply with the regulations. If the police officers felt that they were not doing that, and after giving verbal warnings they were still not moving on, then they have the power to issue a fine and if they do not give their details then they are committing an offence. Nobody was being asked to jump on one leg for ten seconds, there is no reason why that would be in the regulations, there is a reason for the regulations that are in place however.[/quote]
Lol, what they were trying to fine her for isn't even part of the restrictions, it is as much a restriction as jumping on one leg is. Do you see what I am saying? She broke no laws. Why would you give your details if you broke no laws?

ThatIsNotMyUsername · 10/01/2021 10:40

whittystitties - be as pissed off as you like - but getting into one with a police officer at your door won’t get you anywhere.

We once had 4 officers rock up at our door because a new neighbour had reported screaming and didn’t know which flat it was coming from (we are next to her). We knew it was the man upstairs who was always screaming at his kids (really horrible stuff) and explained to the police that it was just us here, no riots, DS came to the door to see what was happening and asked to see their tazers and if they had guns, they apologised and went off of hopefully taser the man who screams at his kids... if I’d answered and been confrontational, aggressive and pissy with them they would have assumed I was the abuser, no?

Hoppinggreen · 10/01/2021 10:41

I went to visit my brother years ago when he moved into a house on a new estate. As I left the estate 2 Police cars arrived and blocked me in, 4 officers jumped out and surrounded the car. They demanded I got out immediately (it was dark so they couldn’t see me).
Turns out they didn’t know anyone had moved in they were responding to a call about possible theft of materials from a building site.
I calmly explained why I was there and offered to open my boot. We had a bit of a laugh about it and off I went.
I was doing nothing wrong, I could have refused to get out as “I knew my rights” etc etc but I cooperated and it was all fine and took 5 minutes
There’s no need to be arsey with a The Police, the majority just want to do their job properly with the least hassle for all involved. The way some people speak to them is awful. Of course there are some who are power crazed and aggressive but I’m sure most aren’t
Of course I do have White Privilege so my experience may not be universal but so did that woman

fortyfifty · 10/01/2021 10:44

@OhamIreally

They don't seem to be arresting any men.

My thoughts too.

But it could just be the media highlighting the cases involving females - as usual.

ThatIsNotMyUsername · 10/01/2021 10:44

My husband and son aren’t white either - police were just doing their job.

Bollss · 10/01/2021 10:45

@ThatIsNotMyUsername

whittystitties - be as pissed off as you like - but getting into one with a police officer at your door won’t get you anywhere.

We once had 4 officers rock up at our door because a new neighbour had reported screaming and didn’t know which flat it was coming from (we are next to her). We knew it was the man upstairs who was always screaming at his kids (really horrible stuff) and explained to the police that it was just us here, no riots, DS came to the door to see what was happening and asked to see their tazers and if they had guns, they apologised and went off of hopefully taser the man who screams at his kids... if I’d answered and been confrontational, aggressive and pissy with them they would have assumed I was the abuser, no?

Totally different. We had police wake us up at 3am nearly breaking the door down because they thought someone was being murdered. It was next door, as it always was but they had the wrong door number. I was nice to them, helpful because a) they were not accusing us of wrongdoing and b) it was an actual crime.

V different to being targeted and accused of law breaking for sitting on a bench.

Therarestone · 10/01/2021 10:46

Please stop with the Daily Mail.

It's click bait.

ThatIsNotMyUsername · 10/01/2021 10:47

True - but they won’t back off because you are confrontational will they? It will only escalate things surely?

Carysmatthews · 10/01/2021 10:47

She wasn’t arrested for sitting on a bench. She was arrested for refusing to give her details to the Police. At least bother to ready the article!

Bollss · 10/01/2021 10:48

@ThatIsNotMyUsername

True - but they won’t back off because you are confrontational will they? It will only escalate things surely?

No, they won't, but I think the key bit you're missing here is that they have no basis to act in a situation like this. They are in the wrong. They should not be doing this. The issue is the police here.

Would I be polite, Yes, probably but I'd be incredibly annoyed and I'd probably make a formal complaint. Why are we accepting this?

Bollss · 10/01/2021 10:49

@Carysmatthews

She wasn’t arrested for sitting on a bench. She was arrested for refusing to give her details to the Police. At least bother to ready the article!

You don't have to give your details unless you're breaking a law.