The UK police consider themselves above the law

The problem ... and danger ... is that the UK police seem to consider themselves above the law. Listen to the policeman in the Rochester incident (featured on your pages a little while ago). When the young photographer who is being hassled by the police asks under what law he is being detained the policeman says "... don't have to have any law ..." (at 1:00 minute in the video recording)

Then there are the way more serious incidents, like the death of Ian Tomlinson and Blair Peach, for which no one has ever been held accountable.

The UK police are seriously out of control and it's frigthening.

This is about more than photography

She continues: "Our officers do receive guidance around the issue of photography", but I wonder whether they receive general guidance about the issue of making up laws on the spot, or how to deal with someone persistently behaving in a way that is contrary to police requests but not illegal.

A lot of officers seem to find it very hard to back down if they ask someone to change their behaviour and the person refuses.

Seizure of camera

This officer has committed two criminal offences: common assault contrary to the offences against the person act 1861 and robbery contrary to the theft act 1968. Yet, as we see so often, the only sanction would be 'words of advice.' As I have found on occasions, the IPCC is useless. I entirely agree with the commentor who states that poilice consider themselves above the law but, I want to go further: they know full well that if you complain, an investigation is conducted by the same Force. No investigation is going to find for the complainant as it would be an admission of liability, opening the way for damages. Until a copper is prosecuted and the case receives wide publicity, this situation will continue. The treatment of young Jules Mattison was disgraceful. As he is 15, the copper who pushed and dragged him about should be prosecuted for child abuse. Put him in a prison with those done for murder with no hope of parole and see how popular he is - child abuser AND a copper? His fate does not bear thinking about.

COVER UP!

It was probably a policeman who'd done the shooting and they didn't want any evidence being photographed before they'd cleaned the scene.

School teachers need an accredited degree, so WHY NOT COPS?

Why do some countries actually require a BA plus B Ed and even a Masters just to teach Kindergarten?

Most Cops just have High School and 6-12 months of Police College.

That’s stupid!

If the job is so stress related… Stay Home & get to a Psychiatrist, then get a balanced life back in place…..NOW go back to work… or Quit!

Life is better in a job you’re actually are happy in and fully qualified for.

Third Offence

I believe the police officer has committed a third and very serious offence - Destruction of Evidence -
If he believes the photographer is breaking a law by taking photos or if he has broken a law by stopping her taking photos either way this is destruction of evidence!

knobs

I've yet to come across a single policeman in 55 years who was not a total knob, view any of the cops on camera shows on TV and the cops themselves prove the majority are poorly educated bullies behind a uniform, basically tax collectors for corrupt politicians.