Quote:
Originally Posted by pdurrant
In the UK there is no requirement to identify yourself to the police. From the government website:
"Stop and question: police powers
A police officer might stop you and ask:
what your name is
what you’re doing in the area
where you’re going
You don’t have to stop or answer any questions. If you don’t and there’s no other reason to suspect you, then this alone can’t be used as a reason to search or arrest you."
If you're in charge of a motor vehicle you can be required to show your driving licence and car insurance documents, or present them at a police station by the next day. |
Those are good rules in the UK. Unfortunately in the US, in some jurisdictions, police can stop anyone for any reason and demand they identify themselves. They can also do physical searches simply because they want to. And they can arrest a person for failing to identify themselves. It is always best to not simply walk away, much less run, from police when they stop you. Some police agencies take this method and try to justify it by claiming they are trying to keep criminals in high crime areas off the streets. Clearly there is a point where it can go too far. Many jurisdictions won't allow police to do that, but many others do allow it. As a society we are now trying to find ways to deal with this and make necessary changes. We have a long road ahead of us though...