Paphos People

I got pulled over tonight by traffic police, to check my load. All was ok with my load, but the way they speak to you is you are the lowest form of life. He said to me sir what are you carrying, i told him i cannot tell you under the secret act, and will follow you to the police station. Well, that was it, he was ranting at me, as i refused to get out of my van, or open my window. I showed him the company sign which states will follow you to nearest police station. Anyway after a heated argument we went to the police station to check my load, all was ok. While at the police station he was giving me the dirty looks, and talking to me like a child, and said you know i can get you arrested for this, for refusing to get out of your van at the road side???? I told him no you can't.

I told him if you was a terrorist, and got hold of this, it would put the arm forces at risk, do you really want that. He said in a cocky voice, would a terrorist have a police car with blue lights flashing and siren going to attract attention to themselves. I said i would not take any risk to who you are, it my job to protect the goods in any means i have to. Well, after that he said who the hell do you think you are, and foaming at the mouth. I know i going to get stopped by him again.

Do you think i should report him, or just let it go. The company i picked up from, i will have to tell about tonight, shall i let them deal with it or take a firm hand and complain myself.

Mark
If you go through official procedures of complaint it will be fine.

_________________
Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly!
Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably
And never regret anything that made you smile Warning Internet forums may contain nuts

But i do not want this police office to keep pulling me over Frank, as i carry high sensitive material, would it be ok to complain. I live only 1 mile from police headquarters in hertfordshire, welwyn garden city and do not want him to tell his mates if you see this van pull him over??. I not sure what is right thing to do

Would it not be harrasment then

_________________
Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly!
Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably
And never regret anything that made you smile Warning Internet forums may contain nuts

Mark

I'm not a traffic officer but do deal with traffic issues.

If you feel that strongly about the way you were treated there is no reason why you shouldn't complain about the officers who dealt with you.

Did they search you and the vehicle? If so they should have given you a 'Stop Search Form' and their details will be recorded on that. If you didn't get a form but they told you they would be completing one then you are entitled to request a copy of the form up to 12 months from the date of the incident. The form should have recorded the reasons why they stopped you and the reason for the search.

Hope this helps.

As an aside, if you are carrying loads that are sensitive, perhaps the company concerned should notify the police of where you are going to be and at what time. I know we are on occasions asked to escort loads through our force area for this very reason.

_________________
Sarah & Phil

I for sure would start to keep a diary just incase!

Ummm yes but who would they believe, me or the police Like to think me as i carry important information. But doubt it, even thought i had my CBR checks

Sarah & Phil, Have i right to ask for an escort to the police station Yes they gave me a stop and search form, and i have there details. I have this contract from this company now for over 5 yrs. I do not want to upset the police, but i feel like i been miss treated in an unfair manner, as i only doing my job like you guys are.


All i can say is i wish i could tell you what i carry then you understand why the police are not informed where i go and why?????. I know they did ring the company up but they all gone home, but i got an emergency number for them, for times like this.

You might be worrying about nowt Mark. You may never have the problem again. I'd just put today's antics down to experience. He might have been having a bad day.
If you do notice that you begin to get pulled over I'd get a solicitor to send a letter to the Force responsible telling them you are disatisfied with the way you are being treated.
Gary

_________________
So close yet so far away

It all ok company just rang me to tell me not to worry about things, it been sorted with the police. And if i get any more bother from them just to let company know.Bet i still get pulled over though, do not care as i am 100% legal. I was getting worried though, and keeping log from now on just in case

Mark - I don't understand what you mean by have you the right to ask for an escort to the police station. In my opinion (and it is only my opinion) I don't see why they would have a problem in you going to the police station with your vehicle for them to establish it's contents, but I wasn't there and it would be wrong to comment on their actions without knowing the full facts.

The police do have a right to search you and your vehicle if they have reasonable grounds to do so, i.e. you match the description of an offender; the vehicle has been seen in suspicious circs etc etc. but they have to tell you why and this should be on the Stop Search Form (you can PM me if you want to).

You say that you are CRB cleared, with all due respect to yourself Mark, police officers are security cleared to a higher level than that and in most cases there would not be a reason why you could not tell them what was on your vehicle. As I have said before, if it is that sensitive a load then the police should have been informed anyway and you may well have had an escort to your destination.

If you want to explain your side of the story to a senior officer (they would be the ones investigating your complaint) and seek reassurance re further harrassment then I would go down the road of making a complaint.

_________________
Sarah & Phil

Thanks rick

nico08 I will pm you tomz, as going out now. the reason i was stopped they said back break light was out, but came back on when stopped , as i checked ,funny that. All i can say in N.A.T.O. P.m you tomorrow .

Having served in the military & been in the logistic side of things, I had very high security clearence so I understand what Mark is on about because I've transported sensitive loads that even the military police aren't allowed to stop & inspect due to their high security ratings but on those occasions, we were in military vehicles, so the civilian police knew about it & wouldn't think about pulling us over

Some material trasported between MOD property is done by civilian contractors & Mark is right in what he did but it doesn't stop some police officers, whom seem to think just because they have the blue flashing lights, sirens & carry a warrent card, that they're entitled to do what they like, I know its not all police but some get this 'Judge Dredd' attitude & think 'I am the law' which isn't exactly true is it

After all, people are employed as police officers to uphold the law created by the governmemnt, not to abuse it for their own gain & power trips

I have to admit ,,If I was transporting dangerious or sensative stuff around
for the MOD, I would not be talking about it on an open forum,
where the whole world can see.
But thats just me

_________________
REACH 1000`s of PAPHOS CUSTOMERS EVERY DAY FOR A FRACTION OF WHAT THE OTHERS CHARGE
----------------------------------------------------------------
Whilst the optimist and the pessimist argued that the whisky glass was either half full
or half empty ? .
I drank it .....
The opportunist..

But Neil who knows where i live? who knows what i look like? who knows what vans i drive?who knows what i deliver?who knows where i pick up from? who knows where i drop off ? Case closed

well said Pete

Given that this is a Cyprus forum I had initially assumed that this was the Cypriot police you were talking about, in which case you should keep a lower profile; but as this is the UK, the behaviour of the traffic officer (based on your account of the confrontation) is unacceptable and you should make an official complaint. If you are harassed as a result, make a further official complaint. If you feel that the force is not responding correctly to your complaint, complain in writing, by recorded delivery to the Chief Constable. If that doesn't have any effect, complain to your local MP. It is a sad reflection on what the police service has become that they employ idiots like this. This one is in need of some re-training.

Believe me, you can make his life even more uncomfortable than you currently fear he can make yours.

having said all that kg
its almost certainly better to see how it all pans out that do the all guns blazing bit.

then if you get grief again, have a gripe

KG - I think it is safe to say that there are good and bad employees in all areas of employment. You are right in that unfortunately some police officers seem to have ideas above their station but hopefully they are few and far betweeen. I have come across people in other walks of life that have the same attitude and it's not nice. We hear about attitude on this forum all time time and how much does it grate on us when we are treated badly?

Mark - further to our PM conversation, I have spoken, generically of course, with officers at work today and we are all of the same opinion and that is, that based on what you have told us, there was no reason for you to be treated the way you were. I know that your bosses have squared it with police as far as this incident has gone but if you feel you are being picked on at all, complain straight away. It is officers like this that undermine the good work that others do. The police get hammered all the time anyway without us giving people the ammunition to do it

Pete - your point about being in military vehicles is valid - we are about 12 miles away from an MOD base and there are military vehicles constantly floating about and we wouldn't stop them.

Just as an aside and maybe to restore your faith, my Sgt heard one of my colleagues speaking to a member of the public today and didn't like the tone so she made him telephone her and apologise for his attitude and she stood there whilst he did it. He was a very embarrassed Pc but perhaps this is what the officer you came into contact with needs to be made to do. The Pc in question is a nice guy and it is certainly out of character for him to behave in this way but by the same token we are no different to anybody else and should not be allowed to think we are.

_________________
Sarah & Phil

I am just a small company 1 transit 1 estate car 1 flatbed for my transport company, and it just me and phil who run it. I just hope i do not get picked on as i am worried, that they will make it difficult for us to carry on.
The contract i have with this certain company, i have had for over 5 yrs and cannot afford to lose it, as it a great income for us.

When i phoned to company last night they was very mad at the TRAFFIC police, and said they would sort it for me, and for me not to worry about it, and i did the right thing. PHEW I thought as i really thought they would be mad at my company as the box was opened by them to check it, and there was nothing i could do about it.

I also have another business and wife has one to, florist, just the thought they going to pick on us made me a bit worried, and i really thought i should report them just in case, so i have prove we are getting bullied, by them. but was not sure if that would just cause more bother for us i was not sure what to do to be honest with you.

Anyway the company who i have the contract with is going to sort it out M.O.D so i think they will take notice of that. I let you know the outcome on monday/tue or maybe wed.

Let me please get 1 thing straight, my local police, which have stopped me a few times are always very polite to me and treat me with respect, and i think they have been very fair to me, so please do not think all police are like this as they are not. I have been stopped a few times with no seat belt on and they always give me a warning with no fines. The last time i was stopped, it was the same copper who stopped me the week before for not wearing a seatbelt, and still let me off, what a nice chap . But i always wear one now. I am put off by traffic and the pcso now, but there are some bad apples in every job, like there are some great apples in every job, and i really do respect our local police as they do have a very hard job to do. JUST HOPE OUR LOCAL POLICE READ THIS