Motorcycle police in Sydney, Australia (literally) targetting cyclists

[Shut Up Legs]

http://www.bicycles.net.au/forums/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=88226&p=1319831#p1319827

This absolutely stinks. Two incidents in one week of motorcycle police deliberately trying to knock cyclists off their bikes. Regardless of what (minor) road rule they may have broken, this reaction is way out of proportion and unjustified.
The more negative international publicity this receives the better, so feel free to share this with anyone. Right now, I'm ashamed to be living in Australia.

 

[Drago]

There's no PACE or equivalent in Oz. The dibble over there have largely always done what they wanted without check or hindrance. Nowt you lot can do about it except emigrate, or vote for someone who'll do something about it.

 

[IBarrett]

Appalling behaviour by plod not matter how you look at it. Its not like a bicycle could in any way run from a motorcyclist. The officer should be charged with careless driving at least and assault even.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

If reading the article correctly the law over there states helmets must be worn, the cyclist wasn't wearing one, he was also riding on the footpath, the Police officer came along side, sounded his siren, presumably also asking the cyclist to stop, he failed to do so, the Police officer used reasonable force to make him stop. As somebody else said in the post, move along there is nothing to see here

 

[Drago]

The officer should be charged with careless driving at least and assault even.

Alas, it doesn't work like that over there. The Oz feds are nothing whatsoever like ours in culture or outlook and accountability is zero. Talk about prosecuting coppers out there will get you beaten up, persistently victimised and stopped in the street, all sort of nasties. Their police are seriously out of sync with an otherwise modern western society. It's so bad I've known bobbies who've emigrated out there who came back because they just couldn't handle it.

 

[Profpointy]

If reading the article correctly the law over there states helmets must be worn, the cyclist wasn't wearing one, he was also riding on the footpath, the Police officer came along side, sounded his siren, presumably also asking the cyclist to stop, he failed to do so, the Police officer used reasonable force to make him stop. As somebody else said in the post, move along there is nothing to see here

soooo, person taking a risk to his own safety (supposedly anyway) by not wearing a helmet - response knock him off his bike - for his own good presumably

 

[Markymark]

soooo, person taking a risk to his own safety (supposedly anyway) by not wearing a helmet - response knock him off his bike - for his own good presumably

I woukd imagine its not stopping when beibg directed to by a police officer?

I think its approved by police in this country to drive in front of a motorcyclist if they refuse to stop. I dare say the reason for stoping them may decide whether they can or can't thiugh.

 

[Tin Pot]

Alas, it doesn't work like that over there. The Oz feds are nothing whatsoever like ours in culture or outlook and accountability is zero. Talk about prosecuting coppers out there will get you beaten up, persistently victimised and stopped in the street, all sort of nasties. Their police are seriously out of sync with an otherwise modern western society. It's so bad I've known bobbies who've emigrated out there who came back because they just couldn't handle it.

I've heard the same and my experience in Oz leads me to describe it as a place that only has the appearance of being a liberal western democracy.

In reality it's, by our standards, extremely right wing, authoritarian, institutionally racist and sexist to the levels we experienced about fifty years ago.

On the whole Brits assume too much, basically because they speak English, look "like us" and are usually in a good mood when they're travelling over here.

That might sound harsh, and perhaps it is, but it's naive to think otherwise.

Nice place to visit though

 

[Deleted member 26715]

soooo, person taking a risk to his own safety (supposedly anyway) by not wearing a helmet - response knock him off his bike - for his own good presumably

Whether you like it or not if the law is to wear a helmet (I have no idea but it reads that way) riding on footpath, which again logically is illegal, failing to stop on direction of a Police officer, what is the officer supposed to do, follow the cyclist home?

 

[Drago]

Speak to him in an assertive voice?

 

[Markymark]

Would they both be illegal at the same time?

It's rare that you can break two laws in the hope they cancel each other out. He was breaking at least one law.

 

[Milkfloat]

[QUOTE 4114033, member: 45"]I wonder how different the UK would be if we had a black indigenous population?[/QUOTE]

Most likely a lot warmer.

 

[Profpointy]

Whether you like it or not if the law is to wear a helmet (I have no idea but it reads that way) riding on footpath, which again logically is illegal, failing to stop on direction of a Police officer, what is the officer supposed to do, follow the cyclist home?

It is a bit like punishing someone for breaching health and safety by not wearing goggles by throwing chemicals in his face? You attempt to injure someone because they're not wearing something to prevent injury. In what possible world can that make any sense?

 

[2clepto]

"riding on footpath, which again logically is illegal..." the mundane resurfaces.

 

[Profpointy]

Alas, it doesn't work like that over there. The Oz feds are nothing whatsoever like ours in culture or outlook and accountability is zero. Talk about prosecuting coppers out there will get you beaten up, persistently victimised and stopped in the street, all sort of nasties. Their police are seriously out of sync with an otherwise modern western society. It's so bad I've known bobbies who've emigrated out there who came back because they just couldn't handle it.

It used to be said that Australian police were the best that money could buy.

In the interests of balance I lived there for a year and had no issues personally. The odd routine check/breathaliser -all done in perfectly ok and cival way