Stopped by police on the train for looking at the forums classified

[Marco]

Thanks that’s good to know.

marco

 

[Rogerborg]

Mmm.  In practice, a principled stand will very likely escalate and waste more of your time.  That applies double to BTP, who can be a bit spicy.

Getting I-know-my-rights over being asked why I've been viewing gun porn isn't the hill that I'd choose to die on.

 

[sonofsammo]

Mmm.  In practice, a principled stand will very likely escalate and waste more of your time.  That applies double to BTP, who can be a bit spicy.

Getting I-know-my-rights over being asked why I've been viewing gun porn isn't the hill that I'd choose to die on.

I suppose it depends on how you go about it.
If I was asked to leave a train, and it was only me - which would then make me miss the train and delay my travel, I'd like to know what the reason is before I agreed, given that I was just lawfully going about my business....
I know the Police have a difficult job at times, but they should know better than to waste everyone's time, theirs included.

 

[KendoKhan]

I assume if I had said no they would have escalated the procedures e.g arrest or stop and search.  Can you actually say no to the police? I’m used to the Italian police they would have kicked the s##t out of me if I had  not complied but the British Police (thank god) is more civilised.

You can say No, it is your right under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 to not say anything... Hence the first part of the caution " You DO NOT have to say ANYTHING". However it depends what did they stop you for, was it under PACE did they explain what powers they were using? To be safe and legal they MUST explain what powers they are using to stop you, question you or search you. 

Since the risk from Intl terrorism is severe in the UK at present :

https://www.mi5.gov.uk/threat-levels

Just remember that unlike some of the videos on youtube, if the officers have RGTS(Reasonable grounds to suspect) that you may have committed an offence, they are within the rights to arrest you.  I would strongly advise you against looking at pictures of RIFs on public transport, especially in the present security environment. However being polite goes a long way and if you have done nothing wrong then just comply with the request of the officers and remember your rights under law:

https://www.gov.uk/police-powers-to-stop-and-search-your-rights

 

[Shizbazki]

@Marco 

I'll be honest, whilst looking at RIFs is a perfectly innocent thing to do and looking at RIFs on a train is again innocent.

What you got to realise is that Johnny Public have been made so scared of anything gun like, gun shaped or even associated with guns that they jump to conclusions. Prime example, try reading a copy of Soldier of Fortune Magazine.

Someone probably saw you looking at RIF sales and "assumed" that you were some kind of psychopathic gun crazed nut and called police on you. The police probably thought "urgh why is this MOP (member of public) telling me about something completely innocent? Hmph if i don't do anything about it though they'll complain and i'll get investigated for doing nothing". Hence hwy they probably walked over and spoke to you to look like they are doing something.

In reality the officers were probably covering their own backs.

Oh and lastly, glad to hear they were polite to you.

And and top tip to anyone if you get pulled or stopped by police PASS THE ATTITUDE TEST! 

No matter if it's about RIFs, traffic stops, stop and searches etc. It has great bearing on how you will be dealt with and how quickly.

 

[THE FNG]

@Marco 

I'll be honest, whilst looking at RIFs is a perfectly innocent thing to do and looking.....

+1 for everything you said.

 

[Marco]

@KendoKhan @Shizbazki

yes I learnt my lesson about looking  at RIFs on public transport.

Yes I agree about the best thing in this situations is to be polite and comply. This made things easy for me and the issue  was dealt in a matter of minutes (however I missed the train).  

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Rogerborg]

And and top tip to anyone if you get pulled or stopped by police PASS THE ATTITUDE TEST! 

No matter if it's about RIFs, traffic stops, stop and searches etc.

Yeah, but no. I have a great deal of respect for the important, thankless job that beat and response coppers do, and would cheerfully work with them by default.  Traffic can get fucked though.  I've never met one who wasn't a professional angry-man, and I consider them to be little better than highwaymen.  The House of Lords has agreed with that position since 1907.

 

[Albiscuit]

@KendoKhan @Shizbazki

yes I learnt my lesson about looking  at RIFs on public transport.

Just another stupid ass by product of the state of the world we are living in though to be honest.. 

I dont see someone watching Dr Who in their Iphone and think OMG a time travveorZ!!! Or think someone watching a war movie or such is watching terrorist training videos.

All this be vigilant bullshit, getting people to spy on each other and look over our shoulders for the bad guys is a waste of time IMO.

Exactly as someone said, you could have been rubbing a raging hard on through your jeans to pornhub and someone may had moved seats away from you with nothing being said. Read this place on your mobile and cops get called WTF!!

 

[Tackle]

I'm with Rog on this, it is a thankless job, I'd be doing it now but for a poxy bike rta that wrecked my back halfway through my intake, & THE ATTITUDE TEST is a real thing, irrespective of what you've been stopped for, a polite smiling face with a helpful attitude will get you out of the shit 99% of the time (even with "Traffic"), good example, friend of mine is a skipper in sc019, we got stopped on our bikes by a traffic bike (he'd "chased" us at high speed  for at least 5 miles), & was able to cite at least 3 offences that were license threatening, he then inspected the bikes pointing out exhaust & number plate infringements, while asking us where we were headed (Box Hill, Surrey).

It ended with him telling us to ride safe & to avoid Box Hill as he was meeting colleagues there & they were having a purge on bikers following complaints.

At no point did my mate mention he was "job", no PNC was run & no documents shown, just shows what being polite & cooperative can achieve

While I know what Marco faced had the potential for escalating in a much more serious direction, kudos to him, he did the right thing, & maybe educated the officers on another aspect regarding rifs etc, surprising how many plod still don't know a great deal about our "sport", & the toys we play with.

 

[sonofsammo]

Just as an aside - I wonder if reading gun mart, or any other gun mag would have had the coppers called on you?

 

[AshOnSnow]

I assume if I had said no they would have escalated the procedures e.g arrest or stop and search.  Can you actually say no to the police? I’m used to the Italian police they would have kicked the s##t out of me if I had  not complied but the British Police (thank god) is more civilised.

It was likely British Transport Police.

There would be no grounds for stop and search.

You are perfectly entitled to respectfully decline to answer questions, however if you are under caution, this may be a detriment to you down the line if you choose not to explain your innocence.

I've read G&A on trains, I've not had anything but the occasional odd look. Then again, I do live rural and the sounds of shotguns across the fields here is pretty much an every day occurrence. Plus, my G&A subscription is with WHSmith. Hardly cloak and daggers

 

[Marco]

... & maybe educated the officers on another aspect regarding rifs etc, surprising how many plod still don't know a great deal about our "sport", & the toys we play with.

Yes, while they knew, what a BB gun is they were not aware of the "airsoft sport". I also explained them I have a valid defence and I was entitled to buy non two tone RIFs. However they didn't know about the "defence"!  

 

[Samurai]

Should have said licence.

 

[Rogerborg]

Lulz aside, you probably should have said licence.  I've already decided that I'll refer to my UKARA number as a licence if it comes up, in the same way that FPN blackmail demands are now habitually referred to as "fines" even by the police.  They lie, I lie.

If any of our serving coppers happen to have a recent copy of Blackstones Volume 1 available, it would be handy to look at section 1.7 Firearms and Gun Crime.

Whatever it says there about imitation firearms - if anything - will be the absolute most that a Sergeant or above could reasonably be expected to know.

 

[KendoKhan]

Lulz aside, you probably should have said licence.  I've already decided that I'll refer to my UKARA number as a licence if it comes up, in the same way that FPN blackmail demands are now habitually referred to as "fines" even by the police.  They lie, I lie.

If any of our serving coppers happen to have a recent copy of Blackstones Volume 1 available, it would be handy to look at section 1.7 Firearms and Gun Crime.

Whatever it says there about imitation firearms - if anything - will be the absolute most that a Sergeant or above could reasonably be expected to know.

The only time you read Blackstones is during your phase 2, after that it's just an expensive coaster. ?

 

[Rogerborg]

The only time you read Blackstones is during your phase 2, after that it's just an expensive coaster

Well, lift that mug and tell us what it says.

 

[KendoKhan]

Well, lift that mug and tell us what it says.

Will do mate as soon as I get home. 

 

[Shizbazki]

The only time you read Blackstones is during your phase 2, after that it's just an expensive coaster. ?

Its just an expensive coaster full stop.

I have never touched a full ream thick copy of Blackstones in 10 years.

Though i do carry a pocket handbook version just in case.

 

[EvilMonkee]

Ex copper here - can only echo what everyone else has said - no right to stop you or search you.  As others have said I agree it was probably some half educated copper looking to cover his own arse that he had adequately covered off the call with control.

On a separate subject there appear to be a few of us on the forums here - room for a cop themed affiliated team maybe LOL?

.Ex Notts - City Centre - left 2008 to join the RAF as an RAF Police officer.