East Dulwich station (Ticket checks)

[Dog]

Ticket checks at East Dulwich station tonight. A fine thing, obviously. But the drugs squad with sniffer dogs as well??

*woof*

[BillyPilgrim]

I was wondering about the police presence too. Must have been about 6 of them there when I left the platform. On a hilarious side note, the sniffer dog buried it's face in my crotch as I walked past. No drugs there dog!

[*Bob*]

Under the scrot/betwixt the cheeks are popular spots for secreting naughties.

They probably train the dogs to get their noses in there.

[HonaloochieB]

*Bob* Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Under the scrot/betwixt the cheeks are popular

> spots for secreting naughties.

>

> They probably train the dogs to get their noses in

> there.

Ah, the professional musician's insight. Apparently dog drool on a Levi's crotch can be be claimed as a working expense if you have a legit dry cleaner's receipt.

[SteveT]

All dogs seem to want to lift you in the air by their nose, in your groin, and before you have been properly introduced!

[SMBJones]

I think I need to have a chat with the chief inspector, I am concerned about the dogs!!

Joking aside, you will see more and more of these operations in my area. In addition southern will soon be introducing Rail Enforcement Officers, they will on trains and on stations. For example they will have powers to enforce ?80 on the spot fines for smoking on station premises, anti social behaviour, graffiti to mention a few

I will update on station manager corner once they go live on the routes

Barry Jones

Station manager

[dbboy]

What's the difference between the Reveneue Protection Officers and the newly to be introduced Rail Enforcement Officers?

[SMBJones]

Revenue protection officers, to protect revenue, penalty fares, etc

Rail enforcement officers, to enforce railway by laws, will be a presence on trains and stations ensuring safety, they also have powers to issue fines, help with anti social behaviour,

This is very brief, but hopefully you can see the difference in roles. As I said, once they are up and running I will post on station manager corner

Barry

[hayesgrover]

Can we please avoid a repeat of the ticket check before christmas in the pouring rain?

Everybody was backed up on the ramp for five minutes getting soaked whilst the inspectors and the 6-8 police were nicely dry in the covered ticket area oblivious to the problems they were causing to the 99% of people who are paying customers!!!

[SMBJones]

Hi

I will mention this at my next meeting with the BTP and revenue team

Barry

[ed_pete]

How do they check if you're using a PAYG Oyster Card ?

[ruffers]

With one of those hand held readers I assume.

[sophiesofa]

Note you still have to touch out after they've used one of those hand held readers to check your ticket

[KidKruger]

Posted by: SMBJones Yesterday, 08:46PM

" In addition southern will soon be introducing Rail Enforcement Officers, they will on trains and on stations. For example they will have powers to enforce ?80 on the spot fines for smoking on station premises....."

Well just get them to watch behind the shelter on platform 1 where people are smoking every single morning, un-enforced rule, right next to the 'no smoking' sign.

[eater81]

Ticket checks fair enough, but using sniffer dogs to sniff people as they come out of the station? Absolutely disgusting. Wasnt ther'e something in the news this week about it being ilegal to stop and search people randomly without reason? Surely the same thing applies to sniffing someone with a dog. It is essentially a search after all. Using a sniffer dog to check what somebody, who gives no ground to the police for concern or suspicion, might be carrying in their pocket is an infringement of human rights.

How many innocent, law abiding and perfectly respectable herb smokers have gained a criminal record through such tactics? People who were doing nothing more than descretely carrying their stash in their bag or pocket. It makes my blood boil.

[Horsebox]

'Innocent law-abiding herb-smokers' is an oxymoron, eater81.

[*Bob*]

I agree with Eater.

How many innocent law-abiding herb-smoking, pill-munching, G-drinking, nitrous-inhaling, coke-snorting, mdma-dabbing, mephedrone-bombing perfectly respectable citizens will fall foul of this underhand tactic?

[KidKruger]

eater81 - I thik the whole point of sniffer dogs is that as you say people who carry drugs DON'T "give grounds to the police for concern or suspicion, (about what they) might be carrying in their pocket ".

The fact that they are not waving the drugs around for all to see means that to detect and deal with them (from Police's point of view) they need to deploy other means of detection, such as the dogs.

[sophiesofa]

I always thought dogs at stations were primarily there to sniff for explosives or traces of explosives on people. Now I feel silly.

[KidKruger]

... and explosives Sophie.

In fact anything considered 'naughty'.

You are NOT silly !!

[sophiesofa]

Oh good, thanks KK

[AcedOut]

eater81 - Even if a dog sniffs you and detects something, I don't think the police have rights to search you or ask you to empty your pockets. I might be wrong on this though - but I think you CAN refuse for a dog to sniff you - since they would need reasonable grounds for suspicion to use one on you in the first place. It's rather invasive of them to use a narrow alleyway to do this though.

Most of the time you can actually say "no" to the police, but most people don't know their rights. Just like the police have no right to enter your premises without a search warrant. Unfortunately, new terrorism bills are stripping us of these freedoms though.

[pearl1]

It's not the first time they've used dogs either. They were there a couple of months ago as well. I just resent being made to feel as though I am living in a police state with every move being checked. I don't believe the police should be there with dogs. They have absolutely no reason to suspect the average commuter of being a dope smoker or terrorist and it is an invasion of our personal space (for want of a more eloquent expression).

[Sandperson]

It was a regular occurrence at Peckham Rye station when I was using the train. there were dozens of officers and several dogs. Quite intimidating.

[Loz]

I'm more concerned that a private company gets to use public police for their own revenue protection. I want the British Transport Police (or the general Police if they were there) protecting the public, not a company's income.