In all honesty the Police often come across as hopeless troop of big thickos, unable to comprehend the powers they are given and work within the sensible guidelines which DO exist. There used to be honest and on the spot policing around airports where the airport police knew the faces of the local spotters and where they went. Now we just tend to see PC Rambo in his 4x4.
Nowadays they have all sorts of local ID card schemes which any terrorist can join and the point of which escapes me as they are not recognised outside of that airfield.
A meaningless exercise in "security theatre" where someone is seen to be "doing something".
I despair sometimes at how we are sleepwalking into a CCTV / Police state. The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.