“I think that they are doing a drink and drive test early in the mornings!”

“I am not so sure that a fair description of the new powers is paranoid. After all - you do not ask for powers if they are never intended to be used. Bit like tazers and guns, really.

As the NDJ describes the powers, it seems that ANY two people can be told to leave any public place for ANY reason (or none). I wonder why extra new powers, rather than just the unusual social order, public nuisance and drunkenness/disorderly laws, are needed - those've been OK so far, so I believe? I have to admit that I am very cautious about agreeing that it should be an arrestable offense simply for refusing to leave a public place, when told to by a police officer, while going about your lawful business.

Stop-and-search without justification also makes me feel uncomfortable: surely the police should need reasonable suspician? Otherwise the risk is that police action will seem simply intimidatory, when it wasn't intended that way by the officers concerned.

It would also seem that just occasionally the police get it wrong: and are then very reluctant to back down when they do so.

All-in-all, I am concerned that the police have more than enough powers, and should spend their time being sure always to use their current powers appropriately, rather than asking the Council for what is, in effect, the right to arrest without the need to provide justification to Magistrates or Judiciary.”

“I am not so sure that a fair description of the new powers is paranoid. After all - you do not ask for powers if they are never intended to be used. Bit like tazers and guns, really.

As the NDJ describes the powers, it seems that ANY two people can be told to leave any public place for ANY reason (or none). I wonder why extra new powers, rather than just the unusual social order, public nuisance and drunkenness/disorderly laws, are needed - those've been OK so far, so I believe? I have to admit that I am very cautious about agreeing that it should be an arrestable offense simply for refusing to leave a public place, when told to by a police officer, while going about your lawful business.

Stop-and-search without justification also makes me feel uncomfortable: surely the police should need reasonable suspician? Otherwise the risk is that police action will seem simply intimidatory, when it wasn't intended that way by the officers concerned.

It would also seem that just occasionally the police get it wrong: and are then very reluctant to back down when they do so.

All-in-all, I am concerned that the police have more than enough powers, and should spend their time being sure always to use their current powers appropriately, rather than asking the Council for what is, in effect, the right to arrest without the need to provide justification to Magistrates or Judiciary.”

“I am not so sure that a fair description of the new powers is paranoid. After all - you do not ask for powers if they are never intended to be used. Bit like tazers and guns, really.

As the NDJ describes the powers, it seems that ANY two people can be told to leave any public place for ANY reason (or none). I wonder why extra new powers, rather than just the unusual social order, public nuisance and drunkenness/disorderly laws, are needed - those've been OK so far, so I believe? I have to admit that I am very cautious about agreeing that it should be an arrestable offense simply for refusing to leave a public place, when told to by a police officer, while going about your lawful business.

Stop-and-search without justification also makes me feel uncomfortable: surely the police should need reasonable suspician? Otherwise the risk is that police action will seem simply intimidatory, when it wasn't intended that way by the officers concerned.

It would also seem that just occasionally the police get it wrong: and are then very reluctant to back down when they do so.

All-in-all, I am concerned that the police have more than enough powers, and should spend their time being sure always to use their current powers appropriately, rather than asking the Council for what is, in effect, the right to arrest without the need to provide justification to Magistrates or Judiciary.”

“These paranoid ramblings are making me feel like a Daily Mail reader, sticking up for Big Brother for the first time in my life.
Surely this is all in the execution of these orders? If the police use them without good reason then we'll be bound to hear about it from those who suffer, and then questions can be asked.
But presumably they're going to use the order to get rid of groups of drunks, thugs and the like if it's getting too heated.
I can't imagine they're going to be moving on families out for a spot of lunch, or even mild mannered groups of chaps who've had a few and are on a pub crawl.
It's surely only going to be for troublemakers.
And as for the 'my grandparents fought in the war' stuff, well really it is time to get over it. All of our forebears played their parts in the history of our country. It really doesn't validate your viewpoint”

“Am I missing the point here? Are some people seriously suggesting crowds of youths - or whoever - should be allowed to congregate on our streets and behave badly and intimidate ordinary law-abiding people going about their business? I live in a part of town where I wish the police were MORE visible as we get gangs of youths throwing empty cans and bottles about. They swear at the tops fo their voices, shout at people passing by and don't even get out the way for mums with pushchairs when they walk down the pavement. Sounds like some of you lot are their parents.”

“Gerald,
Please hack in to my computor, you'll find no kiddy porn, files on how to make a bomb, or loads of dodgy bank account details. Do you REALLY think P.C. Plod walking out of Barnstaple nick is going to hack in to yours and my computer? . . Get real.

Scan my finger prints, iris and tell me where i've been, I'm not breaking the law so why do I care?
But lets get back to the point in question, i'd welcome few over zelous bobbies making fools of themselves now and gain, then see the special brew swilling, work shy scum that litter every town centre through out this country.
i recently went to the states and had to provide my finger prints, i didn't see everybody moaning at all, they were quite happy because it proves who we are.
Gerald you can't have it both ways.”

“i feel the same to think my grandparents fought in the war for our freedom to be told in this day and age where and when we can and cannot go, and the trouble with the police is IF your face fits fine but watch out if it don't.”

“Gerald, sorry but is it me or do you sound a touch paranoid!! I do understand and share your thoughts on "control" which does need to be closely monitored but at the end of the day if you have done nothing wrong what are you worried for?”

“Yea but the gact is, richard, it is true but you will be happy with the new legislation that lawfully allows police to hack your computer and take your information will you? you'll be happy to be ordered where to go and what to do by police will you? you'll be happy to have to scan your fingerprint, have R.F.I.D scanning in lampposts telling the police EVERY STREET you walk will you? and for the record, we have to claim benefit through disablilty but we glady give that up to undo what Labour has done......destroyed this country.
You, like the others need to wake up and stop behaving like controlled robots.”