# Did this officer violate the law? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 31, 2011, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-this-officer-violate-the-law/590898 "2011-07-31T04:53:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![rat\_avatar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rat_avatar/32/255_2.png) [@rat\_avatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rat_avatar)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-this-officer-violate-the-law/590898/81 "2012-01-06T23:50:11Z")
> [@rat\_avatar](#): > > As a non-biased against cops person who is related to and friends with several I should say that being honest with cops is the worst thing you should teach your children. > > You should be polite and as silent as possible, within reason. > > As for this taping, I would say it would be well within the rights of the camera operator to film a police officer, freedom of the press is not an occupation related freedom, it is the freedom to publish information, and the courts have ruled that part of that exercise is the collection of information to publish. > > The vast majority of police are good people and trying to do the right thing but I would argue that documenting and publishing the rare abuses of power is the primary reason the freedom of the press was amended to the constitution. Sorry about the necro reply ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2012, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-this-officer-violate-the-law/590898/82 "2012-01-07T16:27:35Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Ah ok that makes more sense. I doubt, however, it’s a secret who is and isn’t a member of the PSNI though anyway is it? It is a secret, at least for any member with any common sense. I have an acquaintance who was an RUC officer, she told me that the first time her daughter realised she was a police officer was when her school bus was stopped at a vehicle check point where she was on duty! Things really haven’t become that much more relaxed for the police here even after the Troubles, I’m sure you’re aware of this recent story: > **[Dissident republicans target soldier in car bomb in north Belfast](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-16437834)** > > A soldier who discovered a dissident republican bomb inside his car may face disciplinary action from the Army for ignoring personal security orders. Granted its a soldiers car but for the dissidents police are just as much a ‘valid target’. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2012, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-this-officer-violate-the-law/590898/83 "2012-01-07T20:26:56Z")
> [@Disposable Hero](#): > > It is a secret, at least for any member with any common sense. > > I have an acquaintance who was an RUC officer, she told me that the first time her daughter realised she was a police officer was when her school bus was stopped at a vehicle check point where she was on duty! I’m fascinated by this, I mean NI is a small enough society, I would have thought being anonymous as a police officer would be nigh on impossible. I know one lad who joined PSNI from down here and to be honest I think he’s stone mad. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-this-officer-violate-the-law/590898/84 "2012-01-08T19:36:59Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > I’m fascinated by this, I mean NI is a small enough society, I would have thought being anonymous as a police officer would be nigh on impossible. I know one lad who joined PSNI from down here and to be honest I think he’s stone mad. I imagine the best policy would be simply to restrict the circle of people who know to the bare minimum, spouse, parents, very close and trustworthy friends. Just tell everyone else you work in insurance or something! Despite all the progress NI is still a very strange place, in regards to being a police-officer I imagine its a bit like being a combination of police officer, undercover agent and soldier _(all officers are armed with handguns and most are also trained in longarms, I know someone who is a police officer and ex-army, he describes the training and work as ‘military-lite’.)_ btw why do you think your friend is mad? Its a _(fairly)_ well paid and honourable career? If dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-this-officer-violate-the-law/590898/85 "2012-01-08T23:21:42Z")
> [@Disposable Hero](#): > > btw why do you think your friend is mad? Its a _(fairly)_ well paid and honourable career? If dangerous. Yeah the danger, he’s a southern Catholic, working in a predominantly republican part of NI. I just worry he’ll wind up like Ronan Kerr. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-this-officer-violate-the-law/590898/86 "2012-01-09T17:52:55Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Yeah the danger, he’s a southern Catholic, working in a predominantly republican part of NI. I just worry he’ll wind up like Ronan Kerr. Well thats understandable, but as the saying goes he knew the risks when he signed up! I’m sure it would be an interesting study for someone to compare and contrast the Garda Síochána and the PSNI, do you mind if I ask why he joined the latter and not the former? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-this-officer-violate-the-law/590898/87 "2012-01-09T18:20:09Z")
> [@Disposable Hero](#): > > Well thats understandable, but as the saying goes he knew the risks when he signed up! > > I’m sure it would be an interesting study for someone to compare and contrast the Garda Síochána and the PSNI, do you mind if I ask why he joined the latter and not the former? Not too sure to be honest. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-this-officer-violate-the-law/590898.md?page=4)