Very wise BM
about two months ago a friend of mine spotted a notice, ungrammatically written, which also managed to directly contradict itself stuck to the doors of the local hospital. So game for a laugh he whipped out his mobile and took a shot of it ~ intending to publish it on Flickr. He was pounced upon by private security officers employed by the hospital who tried to confiscate his phone. He told them in no uncertain terms to feck off.
He collected his wife from the outpatient appointment she had been attending and drove home. One hour later he was surprised to find two police officers from the armed response unit on his doorstep demanding to see the camera phone. The Security Guard had noted his number and reported the matter to plod who, this being Nulabour Britain, over-reacted as usual. My friend told the cops to "get the feck off my doorstep" and they arrested him for obstruction. They then demanded his camera phone. Again he refused to give it to them and told them to get a search warrant, told his wife to contact his solicitor and was taken to the police station where he was questioned for four hours. Eventually the solicitor got him out on police bail. The solicitor then asked the hospital for (i) a copy of their policy regarding photography on the premises (which we all accept falls within the definition of private property) and (ii) a copy of the notice. In response to the first request the hospital was unable to produce any such document relating to photography because they didn't actually have a written policy and on the second they were "unable to find the notice in question".
After ensuring that I had a copy (since returned to him and now with his solicitor) my pal deleted the picture from his phone, went to Carphone Warehouse and got an upgraded (thus "clean") phone and, on the appointed day, answered his bail with his solicitor in tow. A Police Inspector asked him if he would accept a "caution" which the solicitor immediately declined. Police bail was extended by a week and they then once again reported to the Police Station to be informed that the matter was "not being proceeded with". Letters concerning wrongful arrest, infringement of rights etc etc are still flying back and forth.
I should add that my friend is Glaswegian and takes no prisoners!
