Huw passed me this article, about a lady who walked on a cycles-only lane. As cyclists and herself were laughing in disbelief, she was arrested under the Terrorism Act.
“The next thing I knew, the harbour master had driven up behind me with a megaphone, saying, ‘You’re trespassing, please turn back’. It was totally ridiculous…
“But then two police cars roared up beside me and cut me off, like a scene from Starsky and Hutch, and officers told me I was being arrested under the Terrorism Act. The harbour master was waffling on and (saying that), because of September 11, I would be arrested and charged.”
“They took me to the police station and held me for several hours before charging me and releasing me.”
The really chilling statement is at the bottom of the article:
A spokesman for Forth Ports said: “We will robustly prosecute anyone who breaches these new security measures because they have been introduced by the Government and we are obliged to enforce them.”
Interesting to see that the Police in London is still nervous about extrange things in the street like Brasilians people or bicycle riders.
Concerning to terrorism and bicycles, I inform you that here in Spain, ETA made use of a bicycle to put a bomb, several years ago in Madrid. This is better that Police officers in London don’t know this because if they consider that bicycle parkings are potencially dangerous, velorution has a problem in your cities.
Andrea, It still been a pleasure to visit your blog¡¡
from: http://www.law.ed.ac.uk/sln/
ON YOUR BIKE: ANTI-TERRORISM IN DUNDEE HARBOUR
The Times for 17 October 2005 reported a remarkable story about Sally Cameron’s walk home from work in Dundee last May which led to her being threatened with prosecution under anti-terrorism legislation. Cameron, a 34-year old property developer, was walking through the Dundee harbour area en route for home in Broughty Ferry after a hard day’s work, and was first warned by a guard that her route was for cycles only and that she risked being arrested. Then the harbour master accosted her through a megaphone, saying “You’re trespassing, please turn back.” As Cameron continued to walk, two police cars arrived, and she was arrested. After being held for several hours, Cameron was charged with offences under the Terrorism Act. The harbour master at Forth Ports Dundee (as is well-known, the silvery Tay is merely a tributary of the mighty Forth) explained: “We contacted the police in regards to this matter because the woman was in a secure area which forbids people walking. It was seen as a security risk. We were following guidelines in requirement with the port security plan set up by the Government.” Forth Ports Authority, obviously well versed in Scots criminal procedure, said: “We will robustly prosecute anyone who breaches these new security measures because they have been introduced by the Government [smart thinking here: Ed] and we are obliged to enforce them.” Cameron has just received a letter from the procurator fiscal’s office in Dundee saying there would be no prosecution although “the evidence is sufficient to justify bringing you before the court on this criminal charge.” Perhaps the Dundee fiscal’s office and the Forth Ports Authority should be referred to the wise words of Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Good men must not obey the laws too well.”