Times (UK): Police apologise for arresting black rock band The Thirst at gunpoint
The Times reports that UK police are apologizing for the arrest (and fingerprinting and DNA sample-taking) of members of The Thirst band on the basis of false information that came from camera surveillance (CCTV) operator.
A police force has apologised after deploying 30 officers, a fleet of vehicles, dogs and a helicopter to arrest members of a rock band on the basis of false information.
The four members of The Thirst, from Brixton, South London, were arrested at gunpoint after a gig in Staffordshire after a CCTV operator told police they had a handgun in their car.
The musicians, their manager and a friend were detained overnight, had their fingerprints and DNA taken, surrendered their clothes for scientific examination and had their hands swabbed for firearms residue.
On closer examination, however, the security camera footage showed the band unloading their instruments and equipment and using jump leads to start one of their vehicles.
Staffordshire Police initially claimed it had acted “appropriately and proportionately” in arresting the group, who have been a support act to the Rolling Stones and the Sex Pistols. [...]
[Assistant Chief Constable Jane Sawyers] promised the men that their DNA samples and fingerprints would be destroyed and offered them the opportunity to oversee that process. [...]
Tracy Barnett, a paralegal from local law firm Dewes Sketchley, represented the men and said their experience raised important questions about the training of CCTV operators. Ms Barnett said: “It’s important to ask who is watching you, how are they trained and what are they looking for?”
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December 2nd, 2009 at 4:32 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by PrivacyLaw, Jonathan Abolins and Deborah P, Privacyactivism. Privacyactivism said: RT @PrivacyLaw: UK Police apologise for arresting black rock band The Thirst at gunpoint http://bit.ly/7gSoPZ [false info from CCTV watcher] [...]