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Doofy · Nov 1, 2008, 07:06 AM

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...E-project.html

A schoolboy was held as a terrorist suspect by police support officers - for taking photographs of a railway station on a geography field trip.

Fabian Sabbara, 15, was dressed in his school uniform when he was stopped by three police community support officers for taking photos of a station on his mobile phone.

He explained he was taking pictures, as well as pedestrian counts and a traffic survey, as part of a GCSE project.

But PCSO Barry Reeve told Fabian, from Cheam in South London, to sign forms under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act, which allows police to stop and search at random anyone they suspect of terrorism.

The pupil from Rutlish High School, Merton, was forced to comply or face arrest after he was stopped at nearby Wimbledon railway station.

After the incident, his mother Clare and father Felix contacted police to remove any record of the incident against their son's name - but were told it had to remain in place for six years.

Rule 8: Title says it all. Unless you want me to swear a lot.

turtle777 · Nov 1, 2008, 10:25 AM

Only in... oh, wait

You Brits are nuts. I hope it will not get as bad as this in the US.

-t

osiris · Nov 1, 2008, 10:37 AM

Yes Doofy, I feel bad for you and England. For all the bitching you do about the USA, I can only presume that you're warning us (in your own intimate little way) of what not to become.

In NYC, photography in the subway (and other public places) was on the verge of becoming illegal. A lot of pissed off people put an end to that quite quickly.

Doofy · Nov 1, 2008, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by osiris

Yes Doofy, I feel bad for you and England.

Hey, don't feel bad for me - I'm the sneakiest barsteward in the country with an IQ twice that of all the MPs put together. They're gonna have to get up real early to catch Uncle Doof.

Originally Posted by osiris

For all the bitching you do about the USA, I can only presume that you're warning us (in your own intimate little way) of what not to become.

Well, you're already there, but in a different way. Your masters have hidden it more, since you lot have guns.

I do it because (1) I'm 100 mph all the time (can't relax unless I'm simultaneously watching films, working and reading - I'm a high-bandwidth kind of guy) and (2) we all, in every country, need to be fighting against our leaders. Price of freedom is eternal vigilance, etc., etc..

Oh, plus this thread was to let Sayf know that it's not just the Icelanders who're classed as terrorists by the UK authorities. The cocksockets running this place hit *everyone* with it.

osiris · 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by Doofy

Price of freedom is eternal vigilance, etc., etc..

I think it boils down to your succinct statement.

Life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness is still and will always be an uphill struggle.

ShortcutToMoncton · Nov 1, 2008, 02:06 PM

That's pretty ridiculous!

The number of otherwise small-government, conservative types on this forum who didn't seem to have much concern for the post-9/11 broadening of anti-terrorism/national defence powers in the US really astounded me. The general attitude seemed to be "oh well, it doesn't apply to ME" but no one seems willing to recognize the impacts (such as this) such powers could have down the road.

Scary stuff.

greg

Sayf-Allah · Nov 1, 2008, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by Doofy

Oh, plus this thread was to let Sayf know that it's not just the Icelanders who're classed as terrorists by the UK authorities. The cocksockets running this place hit *everyone* with it.

What surprises me the most is that there isn't any real uproar about this. People should be hitting the streets demanding such blatant abuse of the anti-terrorist laws are stopped. But the masses stay home.......

Eug · Nov 1, 2008, 02:44 PM

I got kicked out of an Apple Store for taking pictures of its glass staircase.

Doofy · Nov 1, 2008, 02:50 PM

Originally Posted by Sayf-Allah

What surprises me the most is that there isn't any real uproar about this. People should be hitting the streets demanding such blatant abuse of the anti-terrorist laws are stopped. But the masses stay home.......

Stiff upper lip... ...or bread and circuses. Take yer pick.

Hugi · Nov 1, 2008, 03:05 PM

Brits are becoming much worse than Americans in their abuse of terrorist laws. Dangerous development.

nonhuman · Nov 1, 2008, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by Doofy

Hey, don't feel bad for me - I'm the sneakiest barsteward in the country with an IQ twice that of all the MPs put together. They're gonna have to get up real early to catch Uncle Doof.

Uh, Doof? I hate to break it to you, but an IQ of 40 really isn't something to put on airs about...

Chongo · Nov 2, 2008, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by Hugi

Brits are becoming much worse than Americans in their abuse of terrorist laws. Dangerous development.

Worse than when the IRA was active?