They can but they shouldn't.

They are supposed to stop you for a reason.

 

Says who ?

s.163 RTA 1988 begs to differ

 

yeah, i get your point, we just don't agree, that's at all. i want the cops to have no 'stop and search' powers, no powers to randomly harrass people

i think our difference lies in the amount of trust we place in others, you implicitly trust people to not abuse power, i do not.

you prefer the dubai model maybe, i do not.

imo the level of crime i see is no big issue and what i do see nothing much useful is done about anyway

 

 

the police must have reasonable grounds in order to search (there's a few exceptions to this; anti terrorism, etc.)

but they can't just stop someone at random and search them

there are codes of practice relating to this (but I'm sure you knew that)

actually, I don't trust many people, and the fact that they may be wearing a uniform means nothing to me

I've been stopped myself on more than one occasion, generally the officers have been quite professional

on one occasion when the officer wasn't he just made a fool of himself

but that's another story

 

shouldn't you be out harassing someone or arguing with pissed up cyclists

 

 

This has been an interesting thread, certainly good to see a varied view.

Personally I am of the mind set that if I am not doing anything wrong and I am stopped so be it, provided I am dealt with politely and courteously I will answer any question and be of. I have nothing to be afraid of, in the past I have found that by being reasonable and respectful I am treated the same.

I enjoy watching these type of programs and they prove time and again that people stopped for minor things such as not wearing seat belts etc often lead to a number of other offences such as drugs possesion, no insurance, no licence etc. And more often than not as highlighted by the cyclist attitude plays a part.

I would much rather see a greater visible police presence stopping people and cracking down on any offences.
The use of vans marked as Highway maintenance but fitted with cameras (police interceptors) I do not agree with.
But cameras rarely catch the idiots applying make up texting etc!

 

If we had makeup police, I reckon half of the female population of the North East would be skin colour instead of Imola Orange

 

Do they?

Or do they just show you the minority of cases where it does occur?

Or, use "editorial licence" to put a positive spin on the clip after the event?