Peerie Tr00ker Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 Hi Just wondering if any of you have experienced this at the airport or ferry and what are your opinions about their approach. me and my boyfriend were getting off the south ferry. We were waiting on our lift and a police van with 2 men, pulled up just in front of us and came out and started questioning us. They wanted our name, phone number, address, date of birth, occupation. They also started asking us why we were in Shetland and so on. There was no explanation for why they wanted this but we had to give them it It doesn't bother me about getting those details if it was to help out but the guy that was doing most of the talking had mega attitude and was on a total power trip. He was the younger of the two, the older officer was dealing with me and more friendlier. They basically made us feel like a pair of criminals or drug dealers and we'd done nothing wrong. They could've just said, we're trying to crack down on drugs up here can we have your details. They then drove about 50 yards or so up the road and it looked like they may have been radioing in our details then after a few mins of sitting they drove off. My boyfriend said to me they probably thought we were taking in drugs or something. I'm not annoyed about them questioning me as i've got nothing to hide and never done drugs in my life or anything bad. What annoyed me was the fact that we were treated like a pair of crooks. I would rather they searched our bags or got the sniffer dogs out (or even given them a urine sample!!!!) to prove to them that they were wasting there time. The thing is if they were looking for drugs all we'd probably need to do is ask a few people and could probably come up with a list of names for the police as shetland is a small place and i'm sure that information would be easy available so why do the police waste time on folk like us when they probably have a good idea of who the local baddies are? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostrider Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 They wanted our name, phone number, address, date of birth, occupation. They also started asking us why we were in Shetland and so on. There was no explanation for why they wanted this but we had to give them it They'd have been waiting to be told those yet, had it been me. It doesn't bother me about getting those details if it was to help out but the guy that was doing most of the talking had mega attitude and was on a total power trip. Which is precisely why the police find they get so little assistance and co-operation in Shetland, and that folk have such a negative and distrustful attitude towards them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulb Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 refusing to give a police officer you name and address will result in your detention untill they can prove who you are. i would recommend just being polite and allow them to do there job. i saw a norwigian salior walking his dog on victoria pier today. very shortly after a police car shot up to the boat. the police are not here to give you a hard time they are here to serve us. if you belive that you have been ill treated complain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostrider Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 efusing to give a police officer you name and address will result in your detention untill they can prove who you are. They're welcome. it'll be their bother and expense, not mine. When they prove to me their request for my I.D. is legitimate, they'll get it willingly. Until then, they can work for it. the police are not here to give you a hard time they are here to serve us. If you still believe that, your experience of some of the dubious characters who have hidden behind the blue uniform of Shetland's force is strictly limited. Don't get me wrong, I've come across quite a few decent coppers in Shetland, unfortunately we've also had a steady stream of twisted ones dumped upon us as well, who have undone any good PR and then some achieved by the decent ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 ^^^^Now, Now, Ghostrider..Anybody would think that you had something against the local law enforcement officers. After all they're only doing a job, and getting very little thanks for it.They get very little help from the public, are constantly criticised, and made to look like a bunch of miniature Hitlers.... On second thoughts, Hitler WWII is where I've heard a similar authoritarian approach before.. So maybe you're right after all.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowrie Posted September 11, 2008 Report Share Posted September 11, 2008 I'd heard a similar fate befell two visiting anglers - but they were taken to the station & were strip searched as well! Not convinced they'll be back to sample Shetland's 'warm & friendly' welcome anytime soon........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Styumpie Posted September 11, 2008 Report Share Posted September 11, 2008 I have seen the heavy handed style of these guys operating here in the isles many times. I Have seen them making random false accusations to totally innocent people which caused a great deal of upset, and being aggressive for no apparent reason etc etc, I have no respect for them at all, They are loyal servants of this ever oppressive state we live under now and nothing more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pleepsie Posted September 11, 2008 Report Share Posted September 11, 2008 If people want a drug free Shetland then there will inevitably be occasions when innocent people are questioned. I would think it would look suspicious to see people hanging around the North boat - even though they were only waiting for a lift - as, lets be honest, that is how drugs come into shetland. It is estimated that as much as 70% of current crime affecting our communities is, in some way drug related - certainly that appears to be the case with regard to housebreakings, many of which are committed by people who need ready cash to feed their habit. Perhaps the Labour goverment should be blamed for taking away our right to not answer such questions under their anti-terrorism banner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roachmill Posted September 11, 2008 Report Share Posted September 11, 2008 ^^Because the thing someone bringing drugs up on the boat really wants to do is hang about with the coppers at the terminal? Personally, I'd be off like a shot myself. Mules maybe ain't the brightest sparks in the galaxy but they're surely no that daft. It is not OK for the police to harass people - for whatever reason. Do you're job... but don't be an ass doing it. Simple. I've met good and bad coppers along the way. The bad have been very bad (small man big mouth mentality mostly) while the good have been just what they should be. It's not an easy job I'm sure but then neither are lots of others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostrider Posted September 11, 2008 Report Share Posted September 11, 2008 Mules maybe ain't the brightest sparks in the galaxy but they're surely no that daft. Even if they are that daft, the people who loaded them up and sent them off aren't. I'm sure they'd much rather the delivery went through smoothly, and to that end I'm equally sure that as the majority of busts that have occured in the recent past have occured at or shortly after disembarking, the "problem" is being addressed and means of circumvention being created, if they haven't already been created and put in place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medziotojas Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 Hi Just wondering if any of you have experienced this at the airport or ferry and what are your opinions about their approach. It would seem that the police have increased their activities at both ends: Ferry terminal crackdown launched POLICE who have launched a crackdown on antisocial behaviour at Aberdeen’s ferry terminal warned last night that they will also be targeting people involved in the drugs trade. An intelligence-led operation focused on the ferry from Aberdeen to Shetland and Orkney, and was aimed at tackling antisocial behaviour at the harbour and the surrounding area. However, they're not going to gain much respect from the public if they start treating passengers as described in the original post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooper Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 I agree we Rasmie all the way i have seen this hard handed crap by our boys in blue first hand...When something like that guy was found half killed on the street a few years back what did they do about it??? NOWT maybe they cana handle that kind o criminals... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlady Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 ^^ I may be wrong .. but I think the police knew exactly who was to blame for that assault but no evidence was found and no-one would speak up against them .. but they are no longer causing trouble. So justice was done .. even though it was not seen to be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Styles Posted September 13, 2008 Report Share Posted September 13, 2008 I allways thought folk exagerated or had it in for the police up here when i would hear stories about them till I saw them in action first hand a few times I was shocked at how petty, power mad and vindictive they were! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khitajrah Posted September 13, 2008 Report Share Posted September 13, 2008 I suppose it all would depend on how you react to what the police are doing. It's unlikely that the police are going to be heavy-handed if you're being polite and helpful, after all, it's human nature to get riled when confronted by a bad attitude and defensiveness. If you haven't got anything to hide then you have nothing to worry about, let them do what they need to do and move on. They're only doing their job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.