Toggers Rights

[odd jim]

You give me far less credit than I deserve. The new police website which crashed within the first 24 hours stated that there was 29 incidents on that street, yet didn't say of what nature. Insurance premiums are far lower in areas where crime isn't an issue, regardless of house pricing.

If you don't believe me, thats fine. Its not like I have anything to prove to you anyway!

Ok, what about the crime intelligence for the area, who's suspected of drug dealing etc. Who has reported threats to kill, domestics, who's suspected of fraud offences or has committed sex offences? Who is on licence and what their conditions are, or bail? I could go on.

Seriously, the public has no ideas what goes on under their noses.

I've not asked you to prove anything, I'm giving reasons why you may not have been privy to what the pcso was doing in the area.

 

[simonblue]

Ok, what about the crime intelligence for the area, who's suspected of drug dealing etc. Who has reported threats to kill, domestics, who's suspected of fraud offences or has committed sex offences? Who is on licence and what their conditions are, or bail? I could go on.

Seriously, the public has no ideas what goes on under their noses.

I've not asked you to prove anything, I'm giving reasons why you may not have been privy to what the pcso was doing in the area.

Now your going over the top Jim

Your sounding like the daily mail

 

[London Headshots]

Ok, what about the crime intelligence for the area, who's suspected of drug dealing etc. Who has reported threats to kill, domestics, who's suspected of fraud offences or has committed sex offences? Who is on licence and what their conditions are, or bail? I could go on.

Seriously, the public has no ideas what goes on under their noses.

I've not asked you to prove anything, I'm giving reasons why you may not have been privy to what the pcso was doing in the area.

Except the PCSO isn't privy to any of that information either, and even if he was, none of those offenses listed would give any reasonable person the motivation to question a man with a camera.

 

[odd jim]

Except the PCSO isn't privy to any of that information either, and even if he was, none of those offenses listed would give any reasonable person the motivation to question a man with a camera.

Pcso's on neighbourhood teams WILL be privy to that info.

No it's nothing to do with the camera, just saying there could be a million and one reasons why the pcso might be in the area.

James didn't say he was specifically questioned about the camera, only that he felt that was the reason for being spoken to.

 

[Phil V]

Why ?, James was just standing in an street,waiting for his girlfriend,and had a camera.

Why is an PCSO perfectly entitled to ask some questions,was he doing anything wrong, :shrug:

Who know's? and how would a police officer or a PCSO know who was doing what and when, without speaking to members of the public.

I like living in a free society, so much so that I often talk to strangers in the street (odd I know I'm Northern). So why is it not OK for a police officer to talk to someone in the street - are they supposed to wait until someone makes themselves known as a criminal before they are allowed to approach them.

I'm not generally one to side with the police, but ......:bonk:

No-one was harassed, falsely arrested, beaten, charged or otherwise victimised. He was asked a couple of questions

BTW I've seen police officers do several of the above to people for the horrific crime of being a coal miner and being out on the street.

I've never been challenged whilst carrying a camera - but if you want to feel like a police magnet you should try being a young guy on a small (not miniature - typical youth bike) motorcycle - In the time I had mine, I was 'randomly' stopped on average once every 6 weeks.:nono:

When I was 12 I got a 'formal caution' from a constable for riding a bicycle with no lights at 10AM on an August Sunday morning - he was clearly doing his bit to make me respectful - who'd have guessed it led to me being totally distrustful of them

Get over it, they have a job to do, and if the worst thing a PCSO ever does is ask a guy with a camera a couple of questions I'll be really happy.

 

[whom]

Get over it, they have a job to do, and if the worst thing a PCSO ever does is ask a guy with a camera a couple of questions I'll be really happy.

I'm pretty sure that's about all PCSOs can do isn't it.... they can't arrest anyone.

 

[MTaylor]

To be honest I wouldn't have a problem. When I'm out and about with the camera, if I ever got stopped and asked I'd just answer them, after all, I've got nothing to hide.

If I was a PCSO and someone was standing around infront of a house at night, with a camera around their neck and the door wide open, I'd probably ask what you were up to.

People are jumping on the band wagon to make PCSO and Police look like morons and bad people, just because they ask what you're doing. Granted there are some that can be complete arses, but it's a very select few, that's all.

If you've got nothing to hide, you wouldn't mind answering a few questions

 

[London Headshots]

Pcso's on neighbourhood teams WILL be privy to that info.

No it's nothing to do with the camera, just saying there could be a million and one reasons why the pcso might be in the area.

James didn't say he was specifically questioned about the camera, only that he felt that was the reason for being spoken to.

I've never once been stopped or questioned by a PCSO when I didn't have my camera on me. Every bit of interaction I've had with them has been in the course of my business as a photographer.

But no, they really wouldn't have information at the level you suggested. There's not enough time in the day to list all of those things, in every road, in god knows how a big a catchment area that the average PCSO would cover. Everything you listed would be counted as serious crime, and wouldn't be covered in the PCSO's role.

 

[odd jim]

I've never once been stopped or questioned by a PCSO when I didn't have my camera on me. Every bit of interaction I've had with them has been in the course of my business as a photographer.

But no, they really wouldn't have information at the level you suggested. There's not enough time in the day to list all of those things, in every road, in god knows how a big a catchment area that the average PCSO would cover. Everything you listed would be counted as serious crime, and wouldn't be covered in the PCSO's role.

Yes they do have that information. Fact. They have the same briefings and intel input / output rights as their police officer colleagues. They need this to be effective in their role.

I say this as a police officer who has worked alongside PCSOs.

Maybe it's different in your force (I'm assuming you work in law enforcement?).

 

[swanseamale47]

Because that is what policing is all about. Taking the time to talk to folk is all part of the job. the PCSO doesn't need to suspect anything in order to talk to anyone and quoting "terrorism" etc is plain laughable.

The OP has only stated that the PCSO asked him a few questions, he wasn't stop and searched but instantly certain members here assume that the PCSO needed a reason to talk to him.

From the OP's description it sounds like the PCSO was doing nothing more than talk, not going on a "power trip".

Unfortunately there are too many members here that instantly go on the offensive.

Andy

No policing is about crime prevention, we are not paying the police to chat to strangers about life in general, we pay them to prevent crime.

 

[odd jim]

No policing is about crime prevention, we are not paying the police to chat to strangers about life in general, we pay them to prevent crime.

A bit narrow minded if you don't mind me saying. You'd realise why if you knew the very basics of policing.

 

[fracster]

No policing is about crime prevention, we are not paying the police to chat to strangers about life in general, we pay them to prevent crime.

Chatting to people is very much a part of policing, it is the first step of information gathering, that information when correlated becomes more important than many can imagine. It is where the first suspicions come from, the first step in the evidence chain.

Talking to people is very much a part of crime prevention, local people see and hear things that the police cannot always see and hear, so why should the police not talk to people about things,anything,why not?

 

[big soft moose]

Our local cop stopped me in the street today , and I know it was only because I'm a photographer






I know this because he said " hey up Pete, you're a decent photographer arent you..... how'd you feel about coming and taking some photos of the kids jubillee footie ... there'll be a beer or two in it for you "


I love living out in the sticks

 

[Dan_H]

I can't believe this thread is still going.

At what point did the copper say he was asking you questions just because you had a camera around your neck?

He asked what you were doing, you told him taking photos, so he asked what of. I assume at some point in the convo you also mentioned you were waiting for the missus.

So to sum up, you were hanging around waiting for someone to come out of a house with front door wide open, could have looked suspect to the copper regardless of camera. He stopped, ascertained what you were doing then left you to it.

what's the big issue? He was doing his job.

You lot need to chill out a little and stop being so paranoid.

 

[odd jim]

I can't believe this thread is still going.

At what point did the copper say he was asking you questions just because you had a camera around your neck?

He asked what you were doing, you told him taking photos, so he asked what of. I assume at some point in the convo you also mentioned you were waiting for the missus.

So to sum up, you were hanging around waiting for someone to come out of a house with front door wide open, could have looked suspect to the copper regardless of camera. He stopped, ascertained what you were doing then left you to it.

what's the big issue? He was doing his job.

You lot need to chill out a little and stop being so paranoid.

These threads always end up like this I'm afraid...

 

[whom]

Our local cop stopped me in the street today , and I know it was only because I'm a photographer

I know this because he said " hey up Pete, you're a decent photographer arent you..... how'd you feel about coming and taking some photos of the kids jubillee footie ... there'll be a beer or two in it for you "


I love living out in the sticks

Haha sounds like a TV show I know... does this place look familiar?