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On Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:34:50 +0100, andrel wrote:
>> It's not illegal (in general, there are exceptions) for a cop to use
>> deception in a sting, investigation, or questioning.
>>
>> That's why it is generally best when dealing with the police to say
>> nothing;
>
> One of the reasons some policeman here hate it when during an
> investigation they meet US citizens. They will often start acting as if
> this is the US. Saying nothing and demanding to see a lawyer when they
> just want to ask you something is not really helping the police here.
>
> Sometimes even Dutch citizens that have watched too much US crime movies
> do the same.
There's a cultural aspect to this for US citizens, I think; the ideas
about law and justice are rooted in the UK justice system, but with
significant modifications because of issues that contributed to the
revolutionary war. At least that's how I remember my history (but I
never claim to have a solid grasp of history, either <g>).
>> there's no requirement that if they say "we're not investigating you"
>> that they be telling the truth.
>
> That is the problem from the other side. For me this is an inconceivable
> idea. Here the police has to conform to higher standards than the
> general audience. Of course in under cover operations they might lie a
> bit not to blow the cover, but if it is wearing a uniform it won't lie.
> As simple as that.
> If they do the case is closed and if it was a big lie, they get
> prosecuted.
Here's the thing. In some parts of the US, there is a problem with drug
trafficking. There's a stretch of I-80, for example, between Omaha and
Nebraska where the cops wait for cars with out of state license plates.
They can't pull you over for having out of state plates, but they can
pull you over for any infraction - like drifting out of your lane, or
failing to signal for 100 feet before changing lanes (I know this because
I've been pulled over 3 separate times on that stretch of freeway while
driving at night).
They don't really care about the minor infractions. But because of the
drug trade that takes place along that stretch, they want to "get their
nose in your car" (as my cousin - who's a sheriff's deputy - put it).
The minor infraction gives them probable cause to stop you - and you will
get a warning for the infraction.
Often times, they'll ask the driver if they can search the car. Most
people will respond by saying "sure, why not, I've got nothing to hide",
and the idea is that this puts pressure on someone who does have
something to hide to do something.
But here's the kicker. Suppose they're *not* looking for drugs.
Suppose, instead, they're investigating a double homicide, and a car
matching your car's description was seen leaving the scene of the crime.
A perp described as a blond male, mid-to-late 30's, wearing a leather
coat driving the car. (Hey, that's me!). I'm not wearing the coat while
driving, but have it in the trunk or the back seat under some stuff where
they can't see it.
I consent to let them search the car. They find the coat; I match the
suspect's description, drive a car that vaguely matches the description
of the car leaving the scene - now I'm a suspect in a double homicide.
Just for drifting out of my lane.
That's why US citizens who are smart will not answer any questions -
because even if the cop says they're investigating an accident and think
you might've been in the area, you don't know for certain if in fact that
is what it is.
Similar situation - you get pulled over for speeding. First question any
cop will ask you is "do you know how fast you were going?" - most people
want to be honest, at least to some degree, so they'll say "Maybe 68-70
MPH" - if it's a 65 zone, congratulations, you've just confessed to
speeding. You get a ticket, and if you go to court to challenge, the
cop's notes will reflect that you said you were going 68-70. When you
pull away after being pulled over, the cop gets back in his car and sits
there. He's writing down everything from the conversation in case you
decide to challenge the ticket.
So say you get pulled over, but you've got the cruise control on and
you're doing less than the speed limit. Cop's radar gun is
miscalibrated, and he clocks you at 75 when you're doing 65-66. You get
pulled over, maybe you sped up to pass another car; you assume that he
saw you pass the other car, and you decide that since he caught you for
speeding, he must be right and you must be wrong, so you say 67 MPH. Now
you have no recourse to challenge the ticket because you confessed.
Once a month I meet with our local police liason officer (in fact, I meet
with him tomorrow night) as part of our local community organization. He
often will tell stories after the meeting to those who are sticking
around about the dumb things people confess to.
> BTW Did someone answer Warp's question already: can cops be prosecuted
> for 'entrapment'? (at least I think he wanted to know that)
I think it depends on the circumstances. I can't think of any such
prosecutions offhand, but I don't follow the news that closely.
>> Cops are trained professionals, and
>> not just trained in physical skills, shooting, and the like - they also
>> have training in conducting questioning sessions and getting people to
>> say things they don't want to say.
>
> Well, lying an torture are not part of the tools of a Dutch policeman,
> they often seen to be able to do their job regardless.
Torture isn't a tool US cops use either (unless they're bad cops), but
psychological misdirection is a tool that I would expect any member of
any law enforcement agency in the world would use as a tool in their
fight against crime. "Lying" often may be too strong of a word,
"misdirection" might be a better word to use, because it's not "lying" if
you let someone believe something that isn't true.
But it would never surprise me if you had two suspects who knew each
other for a cop or prosecutor to tell each suspect that the other guy was
cutting a deal at that very moment and this was his last chance to tell
anything they should know.
Jim
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