Big Brother is Watching! (The shape of things to come ???)
 

Hi

So, there I was minding my own business. I'd just landed at Blackbushe (EGLK) and put the chopper to bed for the afternoon en route to a meeting at Farnborough.

As my passenger and I exited airside and onto the car park, we were stopped by two plain clothed Police Officers who asked "for a quick word".

At which point his colleague intervenes and suggests that there might have been some confusion.

err, yes!!!! I think there must have been

Meanwhile we were asked to produce photographic identification the details of which were written down as were the aircraft details.

New Olympic regulations being tested ????

The state of things to come ???

Who knows ?, but it might have been sensible if they had there facts right !!!

(They were friendly enough though to be fair!!)


Joel :ok:

Did they show their identifications?

Yes, I asked them to produce their I.D. which they did.

Joel :ok:

Just to join in for fun, looking at the law book (I've just done the PPL exam) it states:

"Note that a pilot intending to make a flight must in any case contact ATC (or other authority where there is no ATC) at the aerodrome of departure. This is known as Booking Out and is a separate and additional requirement to that of filing a flight plan"

The only time you have to contact the Police is when arriving to or departing from the UK at a non-designated airfield. In this case 12 hours (Or Even 24 in some regions) must be given to the relevant police department (A fax usually suffices).

Pages 95 and 100 of the Aviation Law and Meteorology book - Air Pilot Publishing - 2006.

So, on an internal flight as long as you Book Out of the airfield, and also get clearance to land where there is an authority in control you are covered.

some of these aviation rozzer johnies got their teeth in to me recently...insisted on a meet/interview/snoop around at my house/helipad in the SE

"What's this all about" says I....."Olympics security/drug importation/immigration blah blah blah they said..."

As they left they said "thanks very much Mr Blogs...we'll be visiting you every 4-5 weeks, oh, and by the way.... expect a visit from customs and UKBA".....that was 6 months ago and no sign of any of 'em since !!!

Strange :confused:

Joel,

Had exactly the same experience at Sleap in the past. Initially there was no real explanation for the questioning - I had to give my details along with those of my passenger. They then started to suggest it was do with potential customs violations, even though the flight had originated at Barton. I was just relieved it wasn't in relation to my dubious joining procedure at EGCV!

Guess it's proof that anything south of 53N is a twilight zone - my advice is get yourself back to the 'safety' (and sanity) of the north as soon as possible!

Simon

I got pulled in Shobdon a few years ago flying a squirell to Ireland, the lady officer asked could she look at my docs, as soon as she had a look at them they were off, I asked her perhaps she might want to look inside the Heli or the holds, she replied I suppose we should!!

Not sure but, the shape of things to come (just a little bit further down the road) may include 'cockpit cams' in all general aviation aircraft. The move will be 'justified' by EASA and Europol on the grounds of enhanced 'safety and security'.

Basically if you live in Europe (and there are other parts of the world too) you should be prepared to have every aspect of your life monitored within the next 20 years.

Also, expect to see new (and grave) penalties attached to 'tampering' with surveillance equipment.

S.

You want to scare yourself about surveillance, just go to a PI convention......

Phil

I'd have locked you up personally. Only to see the look on your face of course. Remember the service you got off the rozzers on the rock. That is how it should be done :ok:

Delboy

You're getting kinky.
You just wanna put handcuffs on me ! :p

Joel :ok:

JT,be careful now,he `uses` chickens !!

Look, the chicken was a mistake - I was young and needed the money.

I seem to remember I got it off a chopper pilot of some repute though.......

Ah ha

Now I know where the bird flu epidemic originated !!

Joel :ok:

Well, if you do choose to use Blackbushe.......

Don't they do "car boot sales' there? :)

I've always thought that in situations like this, when the "law" doesn't know the "law", one should dial 999 and report people impersonating police officers. Even if they are able to produce ID, which could well be fake/DIY.

Afterall, these people are supposed to know their job - if I had "reasonable suspicion" to think otherwise, I'd have to assume an offence was being committed.

Secret Squirrels in their civvie suits.
 

Special Br*4ch, SB, or secret squirrels as they are usually called in the job have a habit of answering the phone and not admitting to who they are?

It usually goes something like this ..phone goes... the secret squirrel picks up phone and says "who is it and what do you want?!" if they dont get the correct answer they then put the phone down without identifying themselves!
Think of Inspector Clouseu but in a funnier telephone manner.

It can be such a quiet life for the SB boys at regional airports you will often find them wandering around in their rubber healed shoes looking to impress someone like the trolley dollies in their civvie suits.

Their other job when not making the tea, is to meet and greet senior officers who use them as bagage handlers while passing through an airport ;)

Ha Ha I thought it was just Cardiff Special Branch that did that !

Typical call

Ring Ring Ring
SB. Hello
Me. Hi is that Special Branch ?
SB. Who wants to know ?

The call always puts a smile on my face :)

A Branch training video
 

Yes, and this is their training video on how to question someone while out on a walk about around the field.
Watch out for the similar flash SB suit at the end ;)

Better a slightly annoying Special Branch informal interview than the free flow of bad guys by air.

I've often bumped into SB and the police in out of the way airfields and landing zones. One was 10 mins after landing at a private site on a Scottish Island. Knock at the door. Rozzers on the doorstep. Short conversation. Everybody happy. Very impressed that they knew when I had been to that area before.

Mugs of steaming tea all round.

h-r;)