Holiday Weekend: 313 Police Stop & Searches
Over the holiday weekend, the Police conducted 313 stop and searches, and arrested dozens of people.
A Police spokesman said, “The Bermuda Police Service would like to thank the public for their cooperation over the Easter weekend. There were no major incidents reported.”
“Officers conducted 313 stop and searches at various locations from Friday, April 22nd through Sunday, April 24th, arresting 38 people for a variety of offences and issuing 44 traffic tickets.”
“In addition, from 12am Friday, April 22nd to 7am Monday, April 25th 5 people were arrested on suspicion of impaired driving with 14 reports of loud music. Police officers also arrested 48 people for outstanding warrants and conducted 56 liquor license checks at various liquor licensed premises throughout the island.”
have these stop and searches uncovered any weapons, or are they just arresting people for possession of a small amount of harmless non-toxic weed that can’t kill….im so confused as to why these still happen, the EU court of law has deemed stops and searches illegal and a breach of human rights. The next time a police officer stops you, YOU should have the RIGHT to search them…
yes, only small amounts of weed like substance..They should also post how many of these 313 searches were on black people !!!!!!!!!!!!!! prolly around 90%
Let me help enlighten you a tad ..
No matter what time of the day it is or what day of the week it is , while I’m waiting to get out of my gate onto the road (sometimes nearly 5 minutes on a weekend) guess what ? 90% of the drivers on the street are black !
How amazing huh ? ?
Don’t believe that. I’ve seen them search more white people then black. I even saw them stop and search a group of tourists. Don’t ask me why.
I whole heartily agree with you Will Its also in our constitution to freedom of movement unobstructed by anyone..Its just another big brother move and also to show the law abiding citizens that they are doing something It sickens me..
I will only be ‘for’ stop and searches once the drug law as it pertains to marijuana is changed. Normal weed smoking; non-violent; productive citizens can’t even move about our own island without fear of arrest. I have personally been stopped and searched 6 times since December—I’m not a criminal… I’m just a ganja man.
There is nothing normal about smoking weed.
Normal weed smoking non productive citizens,???
Sorry the police and Bermuda community is not letting you smoke the rest of your brain cells out privacy.
But drugs are illegal!
That is one of the stupidest statements i have heard in a long time.
Actually, the human body naturally contains cannabinoid receptors and has done for thousands of years because believe it or not we evolved along with the plant. Ok so maybe ‘smoking’ isn’t normal, but surely the same thing can be said about drinking alcohol, should drinking something that causes countless deaths and irreversible damage to body parts be considered normal?
“Sorry the police and Bermuda community is not letting you smoke the rest of your brain cells out privacy.
But drugs are illegal!”
that is the stupidest comment ive ever heard…the POLICE…who are the police to tell me what i can and can’t do in, as you say it, my own privacy…man you are stupid
@ will – amen bra
But weed smoking funds criminal activity, buying beer doesn’t. So regardless of what it does to your body, until weed is legal, it should not be bought or used. That quarter ounce of wee you just bought went to someone on 42nd buying some more bullets for his gun.
SMH…i witnessed 2 young men being stopped and searched…they had just walked off from the atm machine. Police hovered around them like they just robbed the bank. Took the boys helmet off his head…why didn’t he ask the young man to remove his helmet. I felt sorry for them because they did not have radical dimeanors. I understand police have a job to do but not EVERYBODY is a dang criminal…yah stopping and searching ok fine but you have the instincts to sense who is looking trouble and who isn’t. It’s unnecessary to be treating ALL young men on bikes like they’re about to go shoot somebody. From what i’ve experienced AND seen….well let’s just say predjudice still lurks heavily….sad. And I’m not speaking of black n white predjudice either….
Lineage, I agree with you totally. Police do know who is trouble and who is not.
Those poor kids having to deal with the bullying from the police.
I feel the police missed this whole stop and search thing, they can weed out who is looking for trouble and who is not. I saw tourists being pulled over and searched. Come on, isn’t our island suffering now with lack of visitors coming to this island.
I’m all for stop and searches but I do have to wonder just how many people receive a text telling them exactly where the police have set up every time they are doing stop and searches? This presumably would be a reason why the police are not catching people with loaded guns…
I’d also be interested in knowing the breakdown of the offences the 38 people who were not arrested for previously issued warrants were arrested for? Drunk driving? drugs? weapons? plain old ignorant behavior towards the police? There is a list of reasons for people to have been locked up and by saying “a variety of offences” isn’t really clear.
Hopefully this is precursor to the police staking out these known criminals and following them, stopping them, disrupting their movements – arresting them for throwing paper on the streets & any other minor offence… Sure it sounds draconian however their hideous and cowardly behaviour warrants taking all and any legal action to disrupt & destroy this group of mentally challenged idiots that ramoant like wild dogs in the outback..
In fact that would be great idea – send them to Australia’s outback and confine them to a life with the snakes and dangerous animals that they emulate..
If these people are “known criminals” why cant the the police arrest them?
Simply stopping black males riding dark cycles is foolish, especially when attempting to gather intelligence.
In the instance of the males at the ATM machine, if the BPS felt something was suspicious why not shadow them,or have another team do it? Because of the eager beaver approach by the BPS they blew the opportunity to learn something useful.
Will & J, I am so there with you. I am curious how many weapons were found during this exercise. NADA!
Oustanding warrants, parking tickets etc! Unnessessary arrests while the real culprits are home laughing knowing the police are out and just waiting for the right time to strike again, once this police exercise for one weekend becomes lax.
Parking tickets need to be paid – not stopping at stop signs and pedestrian crossings need to be dealt with – talking on cell phones while driving is illegal – driving while impaired and carrying a little weed in your back pocket is against the law..
All of the above are clearly not as significant as hiding guns and ammo, however when you fail to address these so called minor matters you simply encourage and enable the slow but steady decline of a society.. We have seen this over the past decade and it is past time that the authorities sort the offenders out…
Bob you are on a roll!! I understand your point BUT our Premier is talking stopping the ‘gangs’ and ‘warfare’ that is plaguing our small island. I don’t think she’s too worried about an outstanding parking ticket or speeding offence! Everyone has a right to his or her opinion! Freedom of speech!
I don’t think people are upset with the stop and searches, it is how it is carried out and how some innocent folk are being bullied and treated like a criminal for not having a back light that isn’t working.
Point taken, however you are breaking the law when your back light doesn’t work and unfortunately some inocent will have to suffer to get the guilty.. Not perfect but what is???
So basically no weapons recovered and all this resulted in was tickets being issued and 38 people probably arrested for warrants based off of unpaid tickets or some other non violent/gang issue. How many houses did they search?
Sorry boys and girls but your anger is a tad misplaced. Searches and disruption get my vote. Rome is burning!!!
go back home to your country !!! You dont live anywhere near where people are getting shot. So worry about your own problems in your backyard!!!
@ Jason – Ummm…we all live near “where people are getting shot”. Do you live in Bermuda? Last I checked it was only a teeny, weeny, itty, bitty lil island that’s 22 miles in length and 2 miles across. And how do you know where ya boy comes from? Sheesh man, try to sound somewhat intelligent at least.
Um okay @Bob and WTF @jason who are you talking to?
Guess Jason figures a broken clock is at least right twice a day.
LOL
SMDH….You people bitch when the police aren’t doing anything, then you bitch when they’re doing something. Make up your damn mind please. You can’t bitch about both of them. Bermudians are such hypocrites.
Im all for stop and searches, but for christ sake let the people go who havent actually done anything wrong. If you have weed so what, as long as you aren’t smoked up and riding it should be all good, going home and smoking a j harms no one. Stop and searches wastes police time, money and resources if the outcome solves no immediate and more pressing matters at this time-GUNS
Yup! I agree with Will.
Bermudian… i think you missed the point of the other writers… we’re not “bitchin” about the police not doing their jobs.. just that they’re using the wrong tactics and targeting the wrong people. Im sure you can agree that everytime we have a crisis in this islnad (rise in road fatalities, stabbings,gang violence, etc..) the police resort to stop checks that mostly disrupts the common folk who arent even involved in the behaviour. There’s a saying that goes “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over but expecting a diferent result” hows about the powers that be figure out a unique solution for this unique problem…. we as taxpayers have furnished the police with everything thewy say they needed for the fight on this gang culture (guns, bulletproof vests, overtime and even a nice new BMW) but i still dont see the results. I agree with the previous writer who said that the police missed the point… thier presence alone would have detered the trouble makers from doing anything but they resorted to the strong arm approach. suppose those young ATM males had some information about a murder… would they after being treated like that want to help the police?? i think not………
they say racism still exists…how about sexism? and they complain Bermuda’s young males are being disenfranchised…
‘those that sacrifice freedom for security deserve neither’
the police are here to protect and serve…screwing up the lives of others so they BELIEVE they FEEL safe means the world has some mega big issues.
believing that its ok if YOU have nothing to hide means you are hiding behind false hopes, have fun in your sick world of cctv cameras and police state being watched everywhere you go.
Those complaining about this are only people with something to hide.If those 2 men that got searched by the police and the police didnt find anything then they have nothing to worry about.They should have left the situation relieved that the police are out working to stop this insane violence on our island.
They are young men they have to suck it up and deal with it.
Please get a grip.
I agree with Ven – the police have the authority to stop anyone and for any reason. I have been stopped a few times just because. Since I had nothing to hide I went along with the police. I did not feel violated or anything because they were doing their job and my conscious was clear. The one problem that Bermuda has had for years is a “no fear” of the police. Rightfully so because Bermuda had always been a safe country where everyone knew everyone and people just “got along”.
The police DO NOT have the authority anyone for any reason. I don’t know where you are getting that from. They have the right to pull you over for supsicion of you doing something wrong, but if they pull you over and run your license through their system and it turns up ok, then they are supposed to send you on your way. They do not have the right to search you or your vehicle without a warrant, period.
Another thing people don’t know is that when they pull you over for speeding, you have the right to see the radar gun and verify the speed you were doing. If they refuse to show you, you have the right to dispute the ticket.
The most important part of this article and that in the RG for me was “There were no major incidents reported…”
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
It’s not sustainable though, I think everyone knows that so the next incident is just a matter of time no matter what the police do. Westgate and cemeteries are rammed full of high profile gangstas. Seriously, just reel off the names of those that used to be players in that scene just 3 years ago..well, they got replaced in the short term a least…a perpetual cycle until the Bermudian public takes back control. It’s no fun when the blame and responsibility can’t be placed on the police or politicians, it’s hard to look inwards, but that’s the harsh reality.
Police can do better, politicians can do better, Bermudians have the power to make the biggest difference and the silence is deafening.
VEN: (Re: your first two statements)
I am not here to argue with you. My time is precious.
But I want to congratulate you!! I wouldn’t expect anything less from someone as righteous as you— you, the One who has been appointed and anointed by the citizens of Bermuda to speak on their behalf. It is apparent that you are a victim of society, in that you are basing your statements, not on facts, but on what society has imposed upon your psyche to say on this subject (marijuana). (It felt good/right to say what you said didn’t it?). Congratulations, you have played your part (and quite well I might add) by casting judgment on persons who have chosen to engage in certain non-violent and victimless activities— an activity that has been a practice of many Nations for centuries.
Nonetheless, I am thankful that I live in the present time because someone who speaks with as much fervor as you with regard to man-made laws was a dangerous person indeed from the 16th-20th century. I imagine that if I drank out of the wrong water fountain, you would make a statement to the same effect. (Please don’t get caught up in my last statement. I am merely drawing a hard-hitting comparison for you to gain insight into the role you are playing). To be clear, I am not opposed to universal laws, truths and ideas which have stood the test of time…
I do wish I had the time to discuss this subject further and conclude with a compelling statement, but I would rather allow you the opportunity to reflect and arrive at your own conclusions. I really would like to end this with the all encompassing cliché “Legalize It”, but that is even too narrow a statement for what I am attempting to convey to you as it still places its use and possession under the Law. Is water legal, or is it simply water?
@ J ….I do not argue on these sites I mainly point out facts that exist.My words may be brutally honest but it has to be said.
You said a lot and I may not reply to everything you said.But I will answer your comment about stating that it felt good to say what I said.
I have seen many young men in Bermuda start out as productive people with goals,then eventually loosing their minds due to smoking,and families ruined due to smoking .I take no pleasure in saying what I had to say.And really I dont have to comment on anything I am not speaking for myself I am speaking for a lot of my friends who are dead or in jail or who have lost their minds and destoyed their families because they lost hope,and became addicted.I will be succesful in my lifetime its not about me.. I am not Bermudas Judge just mainly pointing out what I have seen first hand.
Maybe the older generation had fun smoking when they were younger but these are different times and the younger generation have no idea why they do it,they have no cause,no identity and i can go on and on ,
I believe the point is the police do not need to treat the public like we are all criminals. I have been stopped and searched quite a few times and the police have never been polite in asking their questions which they can clearly find the answer to on my licence (age, height, eye colour, etc.) and then proceeded to ask me where I’m coming from and going to (like really I just left my momma’s house now I’m going to visit my ole man, seriously), checking out what I was wearing as if they didn’t like it (I’m a 30+ yr old woman). If anything I felt somewhat violated, intrused upon for no illegal reason at all.
And as far as I’m concerned what happens in my house is my business, not for the Police to be all up in my personal business,for what? I go to work everyday (and nights) and pay my damn bills on time. I don’t know them and I would prefer if they don’t know me personally. If I ever need them (to protect & serve me) then I know where to find them.
May I also add a kind suggestion – I remember growing up (15-20yrs ago) there was a community police officer in each parish. Those officers were known by the neighbours/communities in which they served, created a rapport with the people in the neighbourhood. If they could go back to the old school way of policing maybe they would get a better response from the public as a whole. Maybe more people would be more willing to tell what they know because they would potentially feel that the Police do in fact care. As opposed to making people feel harassed, and get a sure sense they don’t really give a rat’s asze about you. REALLY
Agreed Alicia B! I don’t think I ever met a kind and curteous officer unless I actually knew them personally! Bunch of rude iceholes! This is why the bad butts always get away. Why don’t they sit up in Ice Queen and search everything coming in and out on Friday and Saturday nights? I bet they’d find something then. And do it randomly.
To Somerset OG – Really, I know quite a few.
Seriously get a grip. The island is exploding and you bunch want to be treated as though we are living in Utopia..
Co-Sign!
Bob, you obviously are not in the demographic that is a constant victim of stop and searches. As I previously stated, I have been stopped and searched many times, an average of 1.25 times a month since December. I have been wrongfully arrested twice, only to be released from jail (without bail) with an ‘apology’, while the other was dismissed–dismissed only after being paraded across Parliament Street in handcuffs.
See, you are speaking from the perspective of an onlooker.
A stop and search is conducted… You are the person in the car driving pass me on my bike/in my car saying “good job Mr. Police Man.” A few seconds later, you turn to your wife and say, “he must have done something”. She nods and turns around out of curiosity. And then you think to yourself “but even if he didn’t, good job”.
Meanwhile, my car/bike get ransacked, I am personally searched 3-7 times in one stop… and I ask, “so why have you stopped and searched me but didn’t stop Bob and his wife?” The officer looks at me and says nothing because I am a “criminal”… I am less than a citizen and do not deserve an answer. Why should I? I am young and I am black, which automatically means ‘we’ll find something on him’. I don’t make a fuss. I then go to work on Tuesday and read yours and everyone’s statement while trying to add some perspective… to try and show you that normal everyday people are harassed daily… that I fear to even travel within my own country. But then I realize, “it’s useless, because you have already dismissed everything that I have to say, even before I’ve uttered a word.” So I just go about my day, working, paying taxes… waiting for the next stop and search.
LOL! Kudos J!
Ugh and Jason .the support for young people is unfortunately dwindling by the day..you have created your own jail without bars…
This lays out the scenario very well. A close friend of mine was stopped and told that he “looks like he has something.” He has never even had a speeding ticket. They also put him in cuffs, and had dogs all in his car, after they watched him walk to his car and then followed him for a while before they decided to stop him. It is crazy!
Not in the demographic for sure but live in an environment that is becoming more dangerous by the day..Your anger should be with the morons in your demographic that make your existence on the island a living hell..
I make no apologies for becoming less liberal by the day and wanting to preserve what remains good in this troubled island..
Well here’s something I witnessed over the weekend that helps me put things into perspective. I was driving along southshore road heading west, near breakers club when all of a sudden, two bikes went FLYING past my car heading west. One was a 150cc honda carrying two males, the other was a single police officer on the orange dirtbikes they have. The idiots on the bike were flying up the road, along the yellow line, weaving in and out of traffic, cutting corners and nearly causing at least a dozen accidents. Now the excellent riding from the officer eventually lead the fools to realize that they couldn’t escape so they pulled over just passed long bay beach. As I drove past I saw one sitting on the sidewalk, while the officer searched and questioned the one that had been riding. From what I saw, they looked like they were perfectly productive young black men. No gang related tattoos or jewelry, no gang colors or anything like that.
Now my point is, don’t think that because you may look, sound and carry yourself like a productive member of society that the police can’t see through the disguise. Criminals can hide among us and often do as to escape the eye of the police. In your whole comment you never mentioned if you have a criminal background or not, or if you know or hang around known criminals. Perhaps that is the reason the police have taken a liking to you?
That’s it, I’m running for Police Commissioner…..
I’m all for getting people to respect the laws and ending all this shooting…but damn, our police force still seems retarded to me….
It is an electronic age, I’m sure half of the island received stop and search alerts on their BB…yes, I got one….just think, the ones that want to carry out violence got one too….SO POLICE, STOP AND SEARCH THE NEIGHBORS THAT YOU GO RUSHING TO WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS.
Warrants = You have a website right Police….POST THE WARRANTS ON YOUR WEBSITE!!….You’ll have more time to harass the Gangbangers!!….ooogggghhh
You think folks with warrants don’t know they have them?? Please…
Police can only police by consent. Half the island subverting their efforts is hardly conducive to success now is it? Although, it pays to advertise and maybe that was the point this weekend and apparently it worked.
So rather do what opposition usually do, tell me Mr. Candidate what, specifically, would you do to deal with gangs and guns as Commissioner. Remember, you must work within the law not some airy fairy “You know who they are, go bang their doors in” nonsense.
I bet you have one and don’t even know it!…lol!!!…..until you stop driving 10 miles per hour over the speed limit and stop running stop signs, I’ll take your comment serious.
Do you think warrants appear out of nowhere? Pay the ticket or go to court to contest it and we wouldn’t be having the discussion and police could concentrate on other things.
I simply asked you for your ideas about policing guns and gangs….I still don’t hear any.
@enough….answer to your second part
To deal with guns and gangs….vote me in, and you’ll see an overnight change!
Lol….in other words you have no idea. Fair enough, at least you’re honest about it.
why publish an idea for the gang bangers to counteract….duh…you must be a politician
Nice avoidance there. No shame in being clueless but at least own that and don’t pontificate as if you are the next answer.
Why not call the police and meet with them and pass on this series of world shattering ideas you have??
Not one of these stops seems to have found anything of a serious nature.
All minor crap!
Our court system is a laughing stock….we don’t need a laughing stock of police
I have read all 34 comments/complaints and you are the only one that actually came up with a possible solution. After reading Warrants = Website, I have to agree thats an excellent idea I hope soemone who is affilated with Police see this and considers it.
@Bermyboy….Nuff Thanks….
It’s long overdue….and I believe it will make people pay up to get their name and face off warrant list.
Just hope it wouldn’t backfire and make the U.S. put us on the stop list for parking ticket and stop sign ticket warrants….lol
If the cops had found a single gun on any of those stopped and searched you would all be praising them to the heavens.
Instead- we get the usual whining about the illegality of weed.
BTW- I am of the opinion that weed is less harmful physically than alcohol.
BUT- while it’s illegal you can’t expect to get caught with it and get away with it. Furthermore, the power struggle over money and territory we see in gang violence is undeniably connected to the importation of all illegal drugs-
including weed.
If you want to smoke weed campaign to get it legalised/ de-criminalised, don’t bitch about the cops!
yeah but the whole point about ‘bitching’ is to get those in power to realise that we have done nothing wrong, only their few words on paper have made us ‘criminals’. What ever happened to the days of police initiative. And how many cops today have or still continue to use drugs, whatever they may be. The point of initiative is for the police who joined the force to make a change from within.If i joined the police I would realise the real harms to society and stop chasing weed users, go after the sellers, yes i am still against dealing but totally encourage growing your own. In fact that is the most sensible thing anyone in Bermuda can do at this moment as it reduces the harms that may be caused to you by added chemicals, doesnt put money into hands of organised crime thus equating to less money being used to purchase weapons..this knock on effect has been observed all over Europe where they seem to realise that breaching human rights takes precedence over whether or not someone is offended by someone smoking weed and deaths associated with a LOSING drug war…300million a year is a total waste of money, better spent I reckon on improving schools or offering rehabilitation to hard drug users suffering from a debilitating mental disease known as addiction, and even proper drug education..its worked in Portugal so why can’t it work here. Wake up and realise that people all over the world use drugs and no matter what someone else tells me, i have made MY OWN informed decision to use them, oh and i dont ever plan on going out and harming you in the evening, because after a 9-5 job i dont plan on beating someone up, i’d rather have a non-toxic joint and sleep feeling refreshed to contribute to society the next day.
http://www.ehow.com/list_6801530_marijuana-laws-portugal.html
If this report is true then after decriminalising marijuana in Bermuda, smokers who are found with marijuana would be complaining that they are being brought before a drug panel, like in Portugal, and being assessed by a psychologist and a doctor and told that they need to go into rehab, even though they think they are a casual user. “Although decriminalized, marijuana is still considered illegal in Portugal. The changes that occurred are how authorities deal with persons possessing the substance. Instead of incarceration, officers in Portugal will not confiscate the substance and instead refer the individual to a three-person commission who will evaluate the offender. The three-person commission consists of a lawyer, a doctor and social assistant. Their job is to gauge the person’s level of addiction and suggest ways of rehabilitation. The emphasis with these new marijuana laws is rehabilitation of offenders rather than incarceration. Persons that are not considered addicts and just offenders could face monetary fines, depending on the discretion of the law enforcement officer.”
nope, you see this law allows police to use discretion and initiative, they actually don’t go after anyone smoking weed, but instead have pulled together in a pro-health and safety effort to help hard drug users, freeing up time for the Drugs Divisions to go after smugglers, dealers, gunmen, gangsters etc…its all about whether you think its fair to criminalise someone for doing harm to their own body when in reality it harms no one but the user. Once again when is it right/who has the authority to tell me what i can and can’t do to my own body. Heck soon tattoos will be illegal because people can have offensive ones…grow up
Nope. The law stills has marijuana illegal in Portugal which means that people who are smoking will be fined or put before a three person commission who will evaluate the offender. The offender is anyone who has marijuana on their person. An addict or an offender will be evaluated by a psychologist/doctor to determine level of addiction. If not considered an addict then a fine will be meted out. Would people in Bermuda want to be analysed by a psychiatrist or a doctor to determine their level of addiction? They would be crying that that is still infringing on their rights to do what they want. Marijuana is still illegal in Portugal…..
I’ve been stopped a few times,I don’t care how many times I’m stopped!
Each time the Police were Polite but Firm in their approach to me.
I was treated with respect but they were cautious until they were satisfied about me.
I was bidded a polite goodbye after.
You lot moan and groan when the police are not about and do the same when they are…
you all sound like a bunch of spoilt brats to me that need their ass cut!
A male friend of mind, who has no connection any illegal activity, was followed to his car, and then once he got in it, the police followed him for a while until they finally pulled him over the outskirts of the city. They put him in hand cuffs, and called for the dogs to come to sniff out his vehicle. The officer who came with the dogs said “oh he must have something, LOOK at him.” Was this some sort of profiling stop? My friend has never even had a speeding ticket, and for him to be followed, pulled over, hand cuffed, dogs in his car, and then told he looks a certain way, so he must have “something” is wrong! They spent 20 minutes on him when they know full well who the REAL criminals are. It is good that they are out there, but for an innocent person to be treated like a criminal is WRONG…no matter what way you look at it.
All those people who don’t have a problem with being stopped and searched will have a problem later because you are setting yourselves up for a Police state when those knuckle heads come busting into your house unannounced..unless I have a busted light on my vehicle or I committed a moving violation a will have a problem of being stopped
Let’s deal with the now boss..cause what we are experiencing now requires draconian action..
totally agree. and profiling must stop. I was stopped in customs on the way back from the UK after university, yes i may have looked nervous , but thats my demeanour i can’t help it. Explained to the officer i have nothing several times although he insisted he wanted a full body search. After constantly telling him i wasn’t ‘stupid’ to bring anything in he eventually let me go, although after having a massive go at me for not looking at him whilst he searched me. Later on i discovered that he ripped open my really expensive leather wallet, and for what!? He didnt ask if i had weapons, coke, heroin, crystal meth or anything of that ‘dangerous’ nature, but kept asking if i smoked weed etc…MISPLACED PRIORITIES
You can’t honestly blame customs officers for profiling? Read the drugs arrest stories- often the people carrying drugs are spotted because of their nervous behaviour.
You’re not alone though- I feel guilty as hell going through customs with nothing to hide!
An ever increasing number of young black men are making it very easy for profiling to gain traction. Young women are attempting to even the playing field, as if our men need company or maybe they simply want to share the pain..
Again, I understand your argument, however support for your demographic is quickly being erased by the sick and depraved behaviour of an ever growing number of people that look just like you ( and me, albeit much younger ). As sad as that sounds it is a one of the many ways that the police/ customs / immigration and the like use world wide to catch the bad guys.
Yeah, yeah, yeah it might not look or feel fair and just, however fair is relative boys and girls and we live in dark times…
Ok….Stop and search – I understand. But will someone please explain to me, why are the police coming on private property – keep in mind they were not called for anything – and search every single person in the yard?? One young man had on fitted clothing, reached in his pocket to pull out his ID and the cop was all set to taser him! This same young man knew his rights, confronted the officer with questions. At this point the police realised they were “busted”! I have seen the stop and search form, which makes no sense. They say this young man was walking on the street – he was home in his yard, as were most of the other people (acople were visiting a resident). The officer also ticked off that they were looking for a weapon…..If this is so why did they not come armed with a warrant?? Nothing was explain to these young people – all was said was “We are conducting a stop and search” But they stopped no-one!! These people were home minding their business!!Hamilton Police Station was called and all was said by the duty officer “I am sorry, I do not know……blah blah” We need answers!!
Welcome to no rights PACE.
LOL
@ those complaing
Ever think for a minute this is in resonse to the horrofic shootings? pull down your skirts and get a grip!
If you have nothing to hide you shouldnt care!