Trainspotter sparks terror alert
A trainspotter sparked a terrorist alert when he innocently stopped to take photos of some unusual engines.
Stephen White, of Yatton, snapped the pictures of the diesel shunters while on holiday in Wales with his sister Helen and her two children.
But unbeknown to the 43-year-old coach driver, he was caught on CCTV by cameras at a nearby oil refinery as he took the photographs.
Security camera operators noted the registration number of his sister's car and passed the details on to the police, who traced it to her home in Lincolnshire.
A neighbour gave officers her mobile phone number and they phoned her in the early hours, waking her daughter Jessica, 11, and six-year-old son Bryn, and demanded she take the photos to a police station despite her explaining what her brother had been doing.
Miss White, a 41-year-old civil servant, refused, saying she did not want to interrupt the family holiday.
Police then went to the campsite where the family were staying and again demanded the photos.
Mr White and his sister say they were so annoyed with the officers for not believing that they were not terrorists and for "harassing" them that they refused to hand over the snaps.
The next day, they say, their car was pulled over by a police officer with his blue lights flashing. Again, he demanded the camera and pictures, but the family stood their ground.
Police now say they are satisfied with Mr White's explanation but he says the events have ruined the family's holiday.
Mr White said: "We were treated and hunted as if we were terrorists and a threat to national security, which was ridiculous.
"This has totally ruined the holiday, just because I'm a bit of a train geek who took pictures of some engines.
"The police were totally over the top. They went to my sister's house in Lincolnshire several times and frightened my young niece and nephew.
"Jessica and Bryn were very scared and we had to pretend that it was just a game. They thought I was going to be carted off to prison as a terrorist threat."
The family were camping in Carew, Pembrokeshire, when they decided to visit Milford Haven last Monday. Mr White spotted the engines not realising they were connected with the Murco oil depot, of which he says there was no indication.
The next day a worried neighbour rang Miss White and said police had been to her home three times.
"The police tracked us down from the registration plate on Helen's car," said Mr White. "Their reaction is totally over the top.
"The police officers from Dyfed Powys who came to our campsite were very heavy handed and were threatening to send Special Branch round to see us and the house."
A spokesman for Dyfed Powys police said: "Officers sought an explanation from Mr White regarding his activities following a report of suspicious behaviour at an oil refinery site in west Wales. Following an explanation from him, no further action was taken."
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by Colin B, Farnborough, Hampshire
Friday, August 28 2009, 11:01PM
“This is yet another of those stupid things that proves the United Kingdom has well and truly become a Police state - More concerned about being "Politically correct" instead of doing what they're *supposed* to be doing - Fighting *real* crime.
One thing that I would be very tempted to ask: If Mr. White had happened to be of Indian or African origin, would he have been pursued and harassed nearly as badly as he was?
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As a so-called "Metalhead", I often tend to wear a lot of unconventional clothing, including studded arm-bands and gloves. Despite what my appearance might suggest to the contrary though, I'm a fully law-abiding citizen with full respect for social order and proper behavior.
Last summer whilst visiting Southampton city centre, I was stopped by a Police officer, subjected to a fairly intensive search, and had two key-chains confiscated - Despite the fact that I complied with the officers questions and instructions at all times. The reason why I'd been stopped in the first instance? Apparently, my appearance was such that I was considered to be a possible threat to public order, and a few people in the city centre had apparently felt intimidated by the way in which I dress!
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Now don't get me wrong, I have to say that - For the most part - The Police Force do a good job in keeping violent crime down, and they are a most valuable asset to the country.
On the same token however, they really should aim more of their efforts into tackling things that obviously constitute a crime...And if someone *might* be performing terrorist reconnaissance, there are other background checks (Country and area of birth, date of entry into UK, known links to terrorist, political or religious organisations etc.) that can easily be performed before a raid on an innocent family is ordered.
As a child, I was bought up to have a very strong degree of respect for the Police, and to always obey instructions given by Police officers for whatever reasonable purpose they may have...But I have to say that every time I hear of silly and avoidable incidents like this, my faith in the Police goes down another degree.
How long will it be until I have no respect or regard for the Police whatsoever? I can't say at this stage, but such a time may well come soon if the PC-brigade keep pushing their bureaucratic nonsense...And I'd be willing to lay a fiver that 90% of the UK share that view!
- Colin B -”
by KB, Bristol, England
Thursday, August 27 2009, 9:36AM
“"Mr White spotted the engines not realising they were connected with the Murco oil depot, of which he says there was no indication" Err, weren't the Murco tanker wagons attached and the big storage tanks behind a bit of a giveaway ??”
by Francis, Wrington
Thursday, August 27 2009, 3:17AM
“Yatton is a well known hotbed of left wing extremism. CIA operatives regularly eavesdrop on conversations at the Butchers arms.
Living in the "Helmand Province" of North Somerset this man cannot be expected to be considered whiter than white.”
by Mark, Bournemouth
Wednesday, August 26 2009, 11:28PM
“The Police act like thugs. Why because we allow it.
What type of people do the police employ - there is a very thin line between police and criminal thug.”
by wibble, In the loft ... listening
Wednesday, August 26 2009, 10:16PM
“Das Leben Des Anderen”
by derek, Nuremburg
Wednesday, August 26 2009, 8:23PM
“Total paranoia!Take a picture of the Wife near a power station and she´s got semtex in her shopping bag?I also fished a lot near Hinkley Point power station."Thats a suspicious cod you have there ,please come with us".But I only wanted a picture to show my mates."never mind that son,you`re nicked",”
by Solomon, Posh end of Artcliff.
Wednesday, August 26 2009, 6:42PM
“Hedgehog,
No need to be so spikey, if we were all like Sam and myself then everyone could walk the streets at any time of night and leave their homes unattended without fear of becoming victims!!
MH, Bristol, get someone to read the article to you again - it's about an oil refinery, not trains.”
by Tidytench, North Bristol
Wednesday, August 26 2009, 6:42PM
“Mr White took photo's of trains & the secret police did not 'get him' - he was just questioned.”
by MH, Bristol
Wednesday, August 26 2009, 5:54PM
“I'm sure the criminal fringe were also delighted that the police were preoccupied with photos of trains.”
by The Hedgehog, Horfield
Wednesday, August 26 2009, 5:51PM
“Well, done, Sam and Solomon. You're the kind of good citizens that the Gestapo or KGB would have loved.
This is the sort of thing that travellers behind the Iron Curtain ware warned of before the Wall went down. "Don't photograph the trains, or the secret police will get you".
Welcome to 1984, like everything else in Broken Britain, 25 years late. Freedoms that we took for granted have been taken away under our noses and we didn't even see it coming.
I wonder if train-spotters have liquid in those flasks? Scary, I call it...”