Oink

Intelligence gathering?

Alan2005

Do you remember the stop and search controversy in the UK in the 80's?

There's a difference between activities involved in a criminal investigation, obtaining search warrants, arresting and questioning people etc and speculatively harassing everyone and locking them up if they refuse to co-operate. You know, the difference between a democracy and a police state.

lmartin999

My comparison would be with the UK. If you enter as a citizen you are (generally) asked no questions, fill no form in, simply hand your passport over with a quick thanks and are on your way. Clearly customs operate in a different way and seem to be after serious criminals as opposed to those smuggling an extra bottle of alcohol.

Yes, search and question - but don't interrogate every returning citizen.

I find the level and nature of questioning intrusive in Canada. If I have a passport and there is no suggestion it is forged then I have the right to enter. If you think I am smuggling then send me for inspection. Just don't waste my time asking about my private family issues, or the minutiae of my job.

I was told in YVR that it was acceptable to go for a weekend to Seattle or Victoria. Anything else was considered suspicious. For Vegas three nights was seen as a reasonable minimum.

As for those white forms, does someone actually enter all of that information into a computer?

Former Lancastrian

But I am ready to play the game our team are on the pitch raring to go dressed in our snazzy new kit. The other team we have been informed have just changed the rules at the last minute. There was a gentlemans agreement that the terrorists, really bad criminals, child porn importers,
etc etc etc had agreed to stamp their foreheads with a stamp that identified which group if any they belonged to.
We have now been told that the referee has agreed with their request so we now have no way of knowing who is who so I guess we will resort to asking them questions or getting them to fill out the odd form.

lmartin999

I am curious. Do you really believe the banal questioning process and the white form might actually identify a terrorist?

Lord Vader

I get the feeling they are reciprocal.

Former Lancastrian

The information on those white forms E311 that most travellers still cannot figure out how to complete in full are sent away to Stats Canada where they input the information for statistical purposes.

rubberduckofdeath

Are you suggesting that police officers shouldn't have the powers to stop & search on the street?

Alan2005

Oh yeah, I forgot about the number of terrorists and child pornographers that border officials catch every year. Although, thinking about it, maybe the reason I forgot was because that number is zero.

Alan2005

See oinks post below...

Oink

Unwarranted searches of person or property without probable cause have no place in a democratic form of society.

Former Lancastrian

Well no obviously not as they are not terrorists but freedom fighters a la
Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness etc but I digress they are now honourable MP's in the UK with one running for leadership of the recent Irish elections.
And I guess Archbishop Raymond Lahey also filled out his form as well.

lmartin999

Constable Savage?

Former Lancastrian

Oh please Alan do some research you will find numerous arrest reports on the internet (google is your friend) on persons arrested for child pornography which I hope you dont endorse at the Canadian Border.
Search Archbishop Raymond Lahey as an example.
The terrorist result I will give you.

rubberduckofdeath

I believe differently and in my experience it's a useful tool.

Edit: What I meant by that is that stop & search is a valid tool when an officer believes its use is required.