Around these parts several notices have gone up in recent weeks -
"Police Operation In Progress". They vary in style but do look to be
genuine. They are well and truly locked (e.g. motorcycle lock and chain
round a lamp post). Typical locations are supermarket petrol station and
local parade of shops.

My take is that they are simply raising profile, making people think
they are doing something and, if they are really lucky, displacing the
odd minor offence. But it occurred to me that they might actually have
some legal significance. Do they?

--
Rod

Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious
onset.
Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed.
www.thyromind.info www.thyroiduk.org www.altsupportthyroid.org

Rod wrote:
Around these parts several notices have gone up in recent weeks -
"Police Operation In Progress". They vary in style but do look to be
genuine. They are well and truly locked (e.g. motorcycle lock and
chain round a lamp post). Typical locations are supermarket petrol
station and local parade of shops.

My take is that they are simply raising profile, making people think
they are doing something and, if they are really lucky, displacing the
odd minor offence. But it occurred to me that they might actually have
some legal significance. Do they?


I don't see how. There is no expectation that anyone committing a criminal
offence would receive a stiffer penalty if it was proved they had actually
read the sign beforehand, any more than anyone could expect to receive a
lighter penalty on the basis of there being no signs warning of a Police
presence.

I guess it would be interesting though to know who is actually placing these
signs. Suggest you phone the local Council & see if they know anything about
who is erecting them & if they don't know suggest they speak to the Police &
see whether they have any involvement.

If they can't give you an answer, cut down one of the signs, keep it & then
phone the Police. Ask them whether you have committed criminal damage & if
so whose property is it

--
Joe Lee

Joe Lee wrote:
Rod wrote:
Around these parts several notices have gone up in recent weeks -
"Police Operation In Progress". They vary in style but do look to be
genuine. They are well and truly locked (e.g. motorcycle lock and
chain round a lamp post). Typical locations are supermarket petrol
station and local parade of shops.

My take is that they are simply raising profile, making people think
they are doing something and, if they are really lucky, displacing the
odd minor offence. But it occurred to me that they might actually have
some legal significance. Do they?


I don't see how. There is no expectation that anyone committing a
criminal offence would receive a stiffer penalty if it was proved they
had actually read the sign beforehand, any more than anyone could expect
to receive a lighter penalty on the basis of there being no signs
warning of a Police presence.

I guess it would be interesting though to know who is actually placing
these signs. Suggest you phone the local Council & see if they know
anything about who is erecting them & if they don't know suggest they
speak to the Police & see whether they have any involvement.

If they can't give you an answer, cut down one of the signs, keep it &
then phone the Police. Ask them whether you have committed criminal
damage & if so whose property is it

I had just about given up on getting a response! Thanks.

Damn - I was just about to put up a 'No burglary' sign to ensure higher
sentences if anyone did. :-)

My thoughts were going along the lines of whether this could permit some
higher-than-normal level of surveillance or evidence collection.

I am sure it *is* the police doing this - the garage shop has a full
size cutout plod leering over the forecourt. Wonder how many crimes he
stops? :-)

--
Rod

Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious
onset.
Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed.
www.thyromind.info www.thyroiduk.org www.altsupportthyroid.org

On Sun, 9 Nov 2008 04:40:17 +0000, Rod put finger to keyboard and
typed:

Damn - I was just about to put up a 'No burglary' sign to ensure higher
sentences if anyone did. :-)

http://e.gg/3295198

Mark
--
"There must be a place, under the sun, where hearts of olden
glory grow young"
http://mark.goodge.co.uk - my pointless blog
http://www.good-stuff.co.uk - my less pointless stuff

On 2008-11-09, Mark Goodge wrote:

On Sun, 9 Nov 2008 04:40:17 +0000, Rod put finger to keyboard and
typed:

Damn - I was just about to put up a 'No burglary' sign to ensure higher
sentences if anyone did. :-)

http://e.gg/3295198

I'm glad I don't work in such a dangerous place.

Rod wrote:
Joe Lee wrote:
Rod wrote:
Around these parts several notices have gone up in recent weeks -
"Police Operation In Progress". They vary in style but do look to be
genuine. They are well and truly locked (e.g. motorcycle lock and
chain round a lamp post). Typical locations are supermarket petrol
station and local parade of shops.

My take is that they are simply raising profile, making people think
they are doing something and, if they are really lucky, displacing
the odd minor offence. But it occurred to me that they might
actually have some legal significance. Do they?


I don't see how. There is no expectation that anyone committing a
criminal offence would receive a stiffer penalty if it was proved
they had actually read the sign beforehand, any more than anyone
could expect to receive a lighter penalty on the basis of there
being no signs warning of a Police presence.

I guess it would be interesting though to know who is actually
placing these signs. Suggest you phone the local Council & see if
they know anything about who is erecting them & if they don't know
suggest they speak to the Police & see whether they have any
involvement. If they can't give you an answer, cut down one of the signs,
keep it
& then phone the Police. Ask them whether you have committed criminal
damage & if so whose property is it

I had just about given up on getting a response! Thanks.

Damn - I was just about to put up a 'No burglary' sign to ensure
higher sentences if anyone did. :-)

My thoughts were going along the lines of whether this could permit
some higher-than-normal level of surveillance or evidence collection.

I can't think why it would. The ones appealing for information or withesses
following a specific incident are no foubt useful thouhj.


I am sure it *is* the police doing this - the garage shop has a full
size cutout plod leering over the forecourt. Wonder how many crimes he
stops? :-)

The two cardboard cutout poliemen that Morrisons placed in one of their
stores in Scotland didn't prove too effective - they were both stolen !

--
Joe Lee

"Mark Goodge" wrote in message
house.net
On Sun, 9 Nov 2008 04:40:17 +0000, Rod put finger to keyboard and
typed:

Damn - I was just about to put up a 'No burglary' sign to ensure
higher sentences if anyone did. :-)

http://e.gg/3295198

Mark

My personal favourite is http://e.gg/3409809 as it clearly shows the
stupidity of the whole signage requirement.

For those who aren't aware of them, the company where that sign is
displayed, (clearly identifiable from the company name shown on the same
door - but I won't mention it here for fear of upsetting the moderators),
are an ISP in Bracknell whose "About Us" page includes the phrase, "We have
a policy of no bullsh*t and will not fob you off with a convenient but
unhelpful answer."

Furthermore, one of their stated "Key Company Goals" is listed as "Being
frank and honest".

It is good to see that they apply this internally as well as externally.

In message , at 04:40:17 on Sun, 9
Nov 2008, Rod remarked:
Damn - I was just about to put up a 'No burglary' sign to ensure higher
sentences if anyone did. :-)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/26/43...a7b70f.jpg?v=0
--
Roland Perry

On 2008-11-10, Roland Perry wrote:

In message , at 04:40:17 on Sun, 9
Nov 2008, Rod remarked:
Damn - I was just about to put up a 'No burglary' sign to ensure higher
sentences if anyone did. :-)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/26/43...a7b70f.jpg?v=0

But they let barristers in?

Rod wrote:
Around these parts several notices have gone up in recent weeks -
"Police Operation In Progress". They vary in style but do look to be
genuine. They are well and truly locked (e.g. motorcycle lock and chain
round a lamp post). Typical locations are supermarket petrol station
and local parade of shops.

My take is that they are simply raising profile, making people think
they are doing something and, if they are really lucky, displacing the
odd minor offence. But it occurred to me that they might actually have
some legal significance. Do they?

A while ago there was 'a Police presence' next to a animal breeding
centre near where I live. Basically there was an organised protest
outside the gates, and the Police were there becuase in the past these
things have turned nasty.

As I drove past I got waved into a layby then my car checked over. Since
it was all friendly (and as far as I knew the car was fine) I asked the
PC how come he was allowed to stop me because I didn't think they could
with no suspicion of anything wrong.

He said it was because there was a declared Police operations area within
some distance (250m?) of the site due to the protest, which meant they
had extra abilities over normal situations. The car was fine so away I
went.

However..

(a) is this a load of porkies?

(b) can they stop you just for the hell of it anyway?