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The Lounge => Media and Inspiration => Topic started by: Dominus Nox on February 20, 2007, 11:26:37 PM

Title: 2 questions for people in england.
Post by: Dominus Nox on February 20, 2007, 11:26:37 PM
I had two questions I'd like answered by people living in england, sans media talking heads filtering the data thru their biases.

1. Yesterday I heard that prince harry was going to be shipped off to irag in a few months. TODAY I heard that blair was pulling all english forces out if iraq in a few months, the media made no comment on yesterday's info re prince harry's scheduled deployment to iraq and if it had anything to do with today/s announcment that english forces were pulling out of iraq. What's the story in england.

2. I just heard that in england the police are allowed to "question" or "investigate" people IF a DNA test shows that they may be related to a suspect.

So this means if they get a dna sample at a crime scene and don't have it in their database but they have YOUR dna, and it indicates you MAY be related to whoever left the sample at the scene, you can be pulled in for questioning, investigated, etc.

Is this true? If so how does it work? I'm curious, especially since someone said that they're trying to allow this in america.

That;s all the questions, I'm asking because I think we have some englanders around here, and I'd like to get real opinions from real people in the area rather than the impressions relayed thru bir media by their talking heads.
Title: 2 questions for people in england.
Post by: Zalmoxis on February 20, 2007, 11:29:15 PM
Somebody also watches CSI. :D
Title: 2 questions for people in england.
Post by: Dominus Nox on February 20, 2007, 11:43:01 PM
Quote from: ZalmoxisSomebody also watches CSI. :D

Nope. L&O:SVU. :p
Title: 2 questions for people in england.
Post by: Zalmoxis on February 20, 2007, 11:45:22 PM
Quote from: Dominus NoxNope. L&O:SVU. :p

I always get them screwed up. I know the basic Law & Order show. I watch the others but honestly, they all blend together for me.
Title: 2 questions for people in england.
Post by: Dominus Nox on February 20, 2007, 11:46:55 PM
Quote from: ZalmoxisI always get them screwed up. I know the basic Law & Order show. I watch the others but honestly, they all blend together for me.

Maybe if you'd quit eating the mushrooms in your avatar, comprehension would come easier to you. :p
Title: 2 questions for people in england.
Post by: Zalmoxis on February 20, 2007, 11:53:38 PM
Quote from: Dominus NoxMaybe if you'd quit eating the mushrooms in your avatar, comprehension would come easier to you. :p

Well, we all have our hangups I suppose.
Title: 2 questions for people in england.
Post by: Hodgson on February 21, 2007, 05:27:16 AM
The BBC was saying this morning that the plan is to pull out British troops by the end of 2008.  Plenty of time for Harry to go yet if that is the case.

Edit: Oh crap -I'm in Scotland, but I'm guessing you'll take any Brit, rather than folks just in England?
Title: 2 questions for people in england.
Post by: Hastur T. Fannon on February 21, 2007, 05:44:58 AM
Quote from: Dominus Nox1. Yesterday I heard that prince harry was going to be shipped off to irag in a few months. TODAY I heard that blair was pulling all english forces out if iraq in a few months, the media made no comment on yesterday's info re prince harry's scheduled deployment to iraq and if it had anything to do with today/s announcment that english forces were pulling out of iraq. What's the story in england.

I really, really, really doubt that the two are connected.  Harry is the "spare" (as opposed to the "heir") and Prince Andrew went to the Falklands and served in a much more dangerous role

Quote from: Dominus Nox2. I just heard that in england the police are allowed to "question" or "investigate" people IF a DNA test shows that they may be related to a suspect.

That's quite correct.  There's been several unsolved rapes that have been cleared up that way.  I'm not sure what you mean by "how does this work"?
Title: 2 questions for people in england.
Post by: Balbinus on February 21, 2007, 05:53:48 AM
Quote from: Dominus Nox1. Yesterday I heard that prince harry was going to be shipped off to irag in a few months. TODAY I heard that blair was pulling all english forces out if iraq in a few months, the media made no comment on yesterday's info re prince harry's scheduled deployment to iraq and if it had anything to do with today/s announcment that english forces were pulling out of iraq. What's the story in england.

Unrelated incidents, that said the timetable is such that Harry will likely be there before the pull-out.

British forces by the way, not English, not the same thing.

We wouldn't pull out to protect Royals, if that were an issue they'd just be kept away from the fighting, that said I expect he likely will be exposed to combat situations.

Quote from: Dominus Nox2. I just heard that in england the police are allowed to "question" or "investigate" people IF a DNA test shows that they may be related to a suspect.

So this means if they get a dna sample at a crime scene and don't have it in their database but they have YOUR dna, and it indicates you MAY be related to whoever left the sample at the scene, you can be pulled in for questioning, investigated, etc.

Is this true? If so how does it work? I'm curious, especially since someone said that they're trying to allow this in america.

It works like you say, if your DNA is found at the scene or related DNA is found at the scene you can be called in.

Interestingly today it was revealed that as part of the proposed introduction of a national identity card scheme the population would be fingerprinted and police would be allowed to trawl that database of fingerprints to match them to crimes.  

In Britain increasingly the tired right wing mantra of "if you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear" is becoming public policy.  Hopefully the US won't follow.
Title: 2 questions for people in england.
Post by: James McMurray on February 21, 2007, 10:22:16 AM
I don't know if we'll follow the DNA thing, but many states (ok, at least one) already have statewide fingerprint databases tied to identity cards.
Title: 2 questions for people in england.
Post by: Dominus Nox on February 22, 2007, 01:45:42 AM
Quote from: Hastur T. FannonI really, really, really doubt that the two are connected.  Harry is the "spare" (as opposed to the "heir") and Prince Andrew went to the Falklands and served in a much more dangerous role



That's quite correct.  There's been several unsolved rapes that have been cleared up that way.  I'm not sure what you mean by "how does this work"?

Well, Ok, by "how does this work" I mean, suppose you turn up dna at a scene and it doesn't match someone, but it indicates someone you have on file may be related to the perp. Now, do you have a right to basically "take this guy in" because a relative may have done something? I mean, suppose I get sick and tired of being hauled into the station for things I didn;t do, and refuse to go? Can they take someone in even if the eviudence says he's only related to the suspect? That's more or less what I was wondering. I mean, does the laws in england allow you to detain, arrest, take in or otherwise incarcerate someone you know is innocent but is simply related to some perp who left dna at a scene?

Well, would YOU like to be rousted out of bed at 3AM or maybe taken away from your workplace by police because some putz you're related to but haven't had shit to do with in a decade did something? That's what I was wondering about when I asked "How it works?"
Title: 2 questions for people in england.
Post by: Dominus Nox on February 22, 2007, 01:48:18 AM
Quote from: Hastur T. FannonI really, really, really doubt that the two are connected.  Harry is the "spare" (as opposed to the "heir") and Prince Andrew went to the Falklands and served in a much more dangerous role.

Well, so he's not the heir, he's the spare heir? Do you think they refer to him as "the toupee" in private then?

As to the rest, wouldn't keeping little lord fauntleroy nice and safe while other britts are catching shrapnal from IEDs and suicide bombers hurt morale, or are the peasants conditioned to accept that royal lives matter more than theirs do?
Title: 2 questions for people in england.
Post by: Balbinus on February 22, 2007, 05:36:59 AM
Brits Nox, for fuck's sake learn to spell it.

As for keeping him safe, most people view it as somewhat inevitable that the rich and powerful will be kept safer than the poor and powerless.  Don't confuse acceptance of a situation with admiration for that situation.

In practice though, I understand some royals actually participated fairly actively in their services, Prince Andrew as best I know (and that's not that well as I don't much care) was well liked by his fellow Naval personnel and took much the same risks as the others.  I would imagine anyone that used their position to conspicuously avoid risk would be unpopular.

But the thing is, the royals aren't nearly as important in Britain as Americans tend to think they are, they're celebrities essentially, not much more than that.

On your initial query, it looks like our troop reduction is smaller than was anticipated and we will have troops on the ground well into '08, so Harry should be there in time.
Title: 2 questions for people in england.
Post by: Hastur T. Fannon on February 22, 2007, 07:12:48 AM
Quote from: Dominus NoxI mean, does the laws in england allow you to detain, arrest, take in or otherwise incarcerate someone you know is innocent but is simply related to some perp who left dna at a scene?

No.  What you'd get is a polite request for a little chat, probably over a cup of tea.  This is what we've found, this is where we've found it, you don't have a brother or a cousin who drove a red Ford Fiesta around 2001 do you?  No arrest, no caution, just a request for help.  Please

Edit: typo
Title: 2 questions for people in england.
Post by: Balbinus on February 22, 2007, 07:17:35 AM
Quote from: Hastur T. FannonNo.  What you'd get is a polite request for a little chat, probably over a cup of tea.  This is what we've found, this is where we've found it, you don't have a brother or a cousin who drove a red Ford Fiesta around 2001 do you?  No arrest, no caution, just a request for a help.  Please

Quite, nowadays we only incarcerate muslims without trial (or in one case after a trial in which the chap was found innocent), which presumably Nox would approve of.

We do have an appalling record currently on detention of terror suspects indefinitely without trial, in many cases where there is significant evidence of innocence or at least no real evidence of guilt.

To paraphrase the old 1970s joke:

In America you're innocent until proven guilty.
In France you're guilty until proven innocent.
In Britain, your innocent until proven Muslim.

The original was innocent until proven Irish, for the curious.
Title: 2 questions for people in england.
Post by: Hastur T. Fannon on February 22, 2007, 07:18:16 AM
Quote from: Dominus NoxAs to the rest, wouldn't keeping little lord fauntleroy nice and safe while other britts are catching shrapnal from IEDs and suicide bombers hurt morale, or are the peasants conditioned to accept that royal lives matter more than theirs do?

Prince Andrew did Air-Sea Rescues, hot evacs of injured soldiers and reputedly moved his Sea King into the path of an incoming missile in an attempt to confuse it and save a ship

If you think Lt. Wales got any special treatment during training or will be treated any differently during deployment because there is an outside chance that one day he'll be Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces, then I don't think you have any conception of what it means to be British
Title: 2 questions for people in england.
Post by: Balbinus on February 22, 2007, 07:21:03 AM
Quote from: Hastur T. FannonPrince Andrew did Air-Sea Rescues, hot evacs of injured soldiers and reputedly moved his Sea King into the path of an incoming missile in an attempt to confuse it and save a ship

If you think Lt. Wales got any special treatment during training or will be treated any differently during deployment because there is an outside chance that one day he'll be Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces, then I I don't think you have any conception of what it means to be British

I think he would call it brittish.
Title: 2 questions for people in england.
Post by: Hodgson on February 22, 2007, 07:50:53 AM
Oh come along fellow Britts, I hardly think our monarchy with its long history of active service in wartime can compare with President Bush's distinguished military record.
Title: 2 questions for people in england.
Post by: Dominus Nox on February 22, 2007, 04:10:41 PM
Quote from: BalbinusQuite, nowadays we only incarcerate muslims without trial (or in one case after a trial in which the chap was found innocent), which presumably Nox would approve of.

We do have an appalling record currently on detention of terror suspects indefinitely without trial, in many cases where there is significant evidence of innocence or at least no real evidence of guilt.

To paraphrase the old 1970s joke:

In America you're innocent until proven guilty.
In France you're guilty until proven innocent.
In Britain, your innocent until proven Muslim.
.

Well, at least there's some common sense left in england, thank god. There may be hope for the green and pleasant land yet.
Title: 2 questions for people in england.
Post by: Dominus Nox on February 22, 2007, 04:15:30 PM
Quote from: Hastur T. FannonNo.  What you'd get is a polite request for a little chat, probably over a cup of tea.  This is what we've found, this is where we've found it, you don't have a brother or a cousin who drove a red Ford Fiesta around 2001 do you?  No arrest, no caution, just a request for help.  Please

Edit: typo

OK, that's acceptable, even in america I could condone it as long as people weren't harassed at work or forced to come in.

Believe me, I have soem relatives I would not like to be judged by, including a half brother and cousin I'd be happy to see dead. That's why this issued piqued my interest.
Title: 2 questions for people in england.
Post by: Dominus Nox on February 22, 2007, 04:18:15 PM
Quote from: HodgsonOh come along fellow Britts, I hardly think our monarchy with its long history of active service in wartime can compare with President Bush's distinguished military record.

I won't defend bush, but have you forgotten king eddie the 6th. You know, the guy that was practically licking hitler's boots and had to be ordered back to england by churchill?

I know he's more or less considered something that england wants to pretend never happened. I've always wondered what made him more unpopular: Sucking hitler's dick or marrying a (GASP!) American!:D

And yes, I know that charles lindburgh, an ameican hero, had an early interest in the nazis, but he repented and made amernds thru his service in ww2.
Title: 2 questions for people in england.
Post by: Stumpydave on February 22, 2007, 04:29:23 PM
Actually Edward VI biggest problem wasn't shacking up with an American but shacking up with a divorcee.  Oh the horror!!!!!
Title: 2 questions for people in england.
Post by: droog on February 22, 2007, 07:01:03 PM
I think you'll find that's Edward VIII you're talking about....

And JFK's daddy was a Nazi sympathiser, and Prescott Bush....actually, quite a few public figures of the time thought the Nazis were doing a fine job.
Title: 2 questions for people in england.
Post by: Mr. Analytical on February 22, 2007, 07:22:51 PM
Quote from: droogAnd JFK's daddy was a Nazi sympathiser, and Prescott Bush....actually, quite a few public figures of the time thought the Nazis were doing a fine job.

  That's nothing, between the second world war and like the 80's, pretty much everyone in French politics had some link to the Vichy government.  Mostly not high up to be prosecuted but a sizeable chunk of that generation of french politicians cut their teeth in a nazi puppet regime.

  Sorry... I was watching The Sorrow and the Pity last weekend and I'm still all WTF!?
Title: 2 questions for people in england.
Post by: Anthrobot on February 25, 2007, 08:06:57 AM
Quote from: Dominus NoxI won't defend bush, but have you forgotten king eddie the 6th. You know, the guy that was practically licking hitler's boots and had to be ordered back to england by churchill?

I know he's more or less considered something that england wants to pretend never happened. I've always wondered what made him more unpopular: Sucking hitler's dick or marrying a (GASP!) American!:D

And yes, I know that charles lindburgh, an ameican hero, had an early interest in the nazis, but he repented and made amernds thru his service in ww2.

Nox this is history.England knows full well what a Nazi cock sucker that particular toff ,Eddie, was. There have been several documentaries and a dramatization of his love for Adolf and his fascism. As for marrying an American, who cares? It was a long time ago and Britain has changed. Even the toffs have had to change their peculiar ways over time.
No one wants to pretend it didn't happen, except in your backward fantasies of britts from "Mairree Porpinnes" land.
Title: 2 questions for people in england.
Post by: Stumpydave on February 25, 2007, 10:16:47 AM
Quote from: AnthrobotNo one wants to pretend it didn't happen, except in your backward fantasies of britts from "Mairree Porpinnes" land.

What!  Good King Ted a blackshirt! Nah!  Up the apples, chim chim cheroo!
Title: 2 questions for people in england.
Post by: Dominus Nox on February 25, 2007, 04:40:53 PM
Quote from: AnthrobotNox this is history.England knows full well what a Nazi cock sucker that particular toff ,Eddie, was. There have been several documentaries and a dramatization of his love for Adolf and his fascism. As for marrying an American, who cares? It was a long time ago and Britain has changed. Even the toffs have had to change their peculiar ways over time.
No one wants to pretend it didn't happen, except in your backward fantasies of britts from "Mairree Porpinnes" land.
I never like mary poppins much. I mean, there's no way that umbrella could have caught enough air to lift her, unless she had the specific density of pixie dust....