I have my mp3 player plugged into my ears so can't quite hear what Billy Law is saying as he approaches me, I can see he's talking but I can only hear KT Tunstall warning how long distance relationships degenerate into tired excuses and failure. Unplugging my ear pieces I discover that he wants to conduct a random search under section 44 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
I think about this for a second. I think that I'm a free man, acting lawfully and as such should be left to go about my business unhindered by the state. This is a wanton infringement of my personal freedom and indicative of a fascist state trying to control the people by brute force and fear.
So I give the officer what for, I say to him "Yes of course, here's my bag, help yourself". I add somewhat unnecessarily, "but can you hurry, I have a train to catch".
The correct response to that should've been, "What! You're catching a train? Here, in the train station?"
But the officer showed a good deal of restraint and kept any sarcasm suppressed within his own mind.
He conducted a search of my bag while another officer asked me a few questions regarding my identity. I wasn't asked to prove my ID at all. The officers were friendly and held me up very little. The experience wasn't too bad.
So do I feel as though my personal freedoms were limited? Very slightly I suppose, I wasn't free to travel at my own pace but at least I didn't miss my train. And lets be honest, it was hardly a great inconvenience.
Do I feel the line was overstepped? Not in this instance. I had plenty of papers of a personal and work nature in my bag and they weren't looked at. As much as could be under the circumstances, my privacy was respected.
I'm sure that these powers of stop and search can be abused, but this morning I felt they were doing the job they were designed to do, help keep us safe. At least, that's what they tell us, I suppose it's up to us to keep an eye on the state and make sure they use these powers to serve, and not control us.
And anyway, I had the last laugh. On the form I received following the search, the officer guessed my height as 5' 8".
The fools, I'm 5' 7" (and a bit).
<evil laugh>Mwaaa haa haa haaaaaaa!</evil laugh>
>;o)
Gazza
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