Prosecution of UK News Photographer Collapses After Recording Disproves Police Testimony (wordpress.com)

Slashdot reader Andy Smith writes: Slashdot reported last September how I was arrested while standing in a field near a road accident, as I photographed the scene for a newspaper. I was initially given a police warning for "obstruction", but the warning was then cancelled and I was prosecuted for resisting arrest and breach of the peace. These are serious charges and I was facing a prison sentence. Fortunately we had one very strong piece of evidence: A recording of my arrest. Not only did the recording prove that two police officers' testimony was false, but it caught one of them boasting about how he had conspired with a prosecutor to arrest and prosecute me. Yesterday the case was dropped, and now the two police officers and the prosecutor face a criminal investigation.

Comments

Doing something wrong?

[Anonymous Coward]

This just shows the lengths that the police will go to intimidate photographers and others to try to make them afraid to photograph or record the police! If the police are doing nothing wrong, why would they care if they are recorded or photographed?

Re:1984 was a warning, not an instruction manual.

[whoever57]

Does anyone here know if English law works that way?

This is one of those times it is important to distinguish between Britain, England and, in this case Scotland.

This happened in Scotland and Scotland has a different legal system. You need to ask if Scottish law works that way.

Re:1984 was a warning, not an instruction manual.

[Richard_at_work]

Plea deals are almost unheard of in the UK - there are rare cases where they are handled, but usually it's an odd case to begin with.

Anyone convicted using witness statements from these officers can apply to have their conviction overturned at a Court of Appeal, and the appeals court will examine their case and either dismiss the appeal, or overturn the conviction - if overturned, it goes back to the Crown Prosecution Service, who can bring another prosecution or not.

Re:Do not talk to the police.

[Bobrick]

The Stanford Experiment has been debunked as a fraud recently, but yes, fuck the police and always record any interaction you have with the pigs.

Re:Do not talk to the police.

[ChrisMaple]

It appears that it has indeed been invalidated.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/freedom-learn/201310/why-zimbardo-s-prison-experiment-isn-t-in-my-textbook

Summary: the players knew the expected results and acted to achieve them.

Re:Great Britain. Ftfy

[whoever57]

When correcting someone, it's suggested to make absolutely sure you're right. Otherwise you look like not only an asshole, but also a fool.

I agree. You do look like a foolish asshole:
"Since the Union with England Act 1707, Scotland has shared a legislature with England and Wales. Scotland retained a fundamentally different legal system from that south of the border, "
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

not from England, which no longer existed as a country by 1707

"England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

Re:Excessively Punitive

[AmiMoJo]

I read TFA and it's actually bullshit as far as I can see. The guy's prosecution was dropped at the last moment, but he doesn't know why. He speculates that it's because of the recording, but he doesn't know.

The claim that the police are facing investigation is speculative too. There is no evidence of that. He says he plans to sue them to recover costs.

Unfortunately the police usually do get away with this kind of thing in the UK. They are pretty much untouchable. Even when there is video of then murdering people they avoid conviction.