Police Action Over Pavement Cyclist!

[Turbo Rider]

Ah well...police budgets are being cut every year, so she'll soon be able ride down the hard shoulder of a motorway, if she likes...bit worrying
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31771456

 

[raleighnut]

@raleighnut are you mystic meg?

 

[puffinbilly]

My sympathy lies with the police on this - these toddlers are an absolute menace, they're in pushchairs nipping at your ankles, on bikes without pedals or lights even seen them in cars with no indicators and tax and no windows and pedals instead of an engine. Absolutely appalling behaviour - they sometimes even stop and urinate in the street.....it's a fine line... recently even seen them in tractors and fire engines on the pavements.....next thing you know in a few years time they'll be ruling the world.

 

[cd365]

Got his camera out? Thus invoking a night in the cells...

Why? It is perfectly legal to film in a public place.

 

[classic33]

It's a true story. The police officer (and I'm not convinced it wasn't a Plastic Plod) has been identified and spoken to.

That said, the response from CTC was actually incorrect...

A "Plastic Plod" PCSO, wouldn't be allowed to drive a marked police vehicle though.

 

[MontyVeda]

Made Radio 4's PM programme this evening... a crap debate about pavement cycling and road safety followed.

 

[Tin Pot]

Why? It is perfectly legal to film in a public place.

I know two people who have been incarcerated over night for filming an arrest.
Why? I don't know.

 

[raleighnut]

I know two people who have been incarcerated over night for filming an arrest.
Why? I don't know.

Because they can arrest anyone if they want to, 'suspicion' covers a lot of scenarios. I've been arrested a few times at 'demonstrations' and released in the morning without being charged with any offence (mainly cos I havn't committed any offence)

 

[davefb]

It's a true story. The police officer (and I'm not convinced it wasn't a Plastic Plod) has been identified and spoken to.

That said, the response from CTC was actually incorrect...

Why was the CTC guy incorrect? I'm assuming mean the quote about under 10 you "can't break the law" due to being under the age of criminal responsibilty.

[edit]
oh and seen coppers on bikes in the local town centre, where it's both perfectly okay at sensible speed, but also where the cops/council did a publicised clamp down on people cycling on the same pedestrianised area..

 

[cd365]

I know two people who have been incarcerated over night for filming an arrest.
Why? I don't know.

http://content.met.police.uk/Site/photographyadvice

 

[Tin Pot]

http://content.met.police.uk/Site/photographyadvice

I don't see any answers there - was there a point behind posting the link?

 

[Apollonius]

I disagree. I think the link makes it clear that it is perfectly legal to film the police at work unless your purpose is to prepare an act of terrorism.

Can somebody make clear what was wrong with the CTC case? I assume we are talking about the man on BBC Breakfast. I know that there is a difference between a child breaking the law and whether they can be prosecuted for it. Was that it?
My understanding is that the only real law on this is the one from the 1860s that forbids velocipedes being ridden on a footway beside a carriageway. The (presumably) CTC guy on TV said this had been modified by a Home Office ruling in 1999 that permitted cycling on the pavement as long as it was done considerately. Is that about right? This is all a bit theoretical as I do not, personally, ride on pavements, but I would like to know what the rules actually are.

 

[Nortones2]

Minister called Boateng, endorsed by roads minister Goodwill in 2014, and further endorsed by ACPO.

 

[cd365]

Freedom to photograph and film
Members of the public and the media do not need a permit to film or photograph in public places and police have no power to stop them filming or photographing incidents or police personnel.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

This seems to be pretty comprehensive on photography rights. There's also a 'my rights as a photographer' sheet online somewhere that I know some people carry with them so if they get hassle they can produce this and read chapter and verse to the police. The basic situation is a reasonable number of people in uniforms don't actually know the law (in this case).