Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Security, London style


As I stood waiting for a train at Tolworth Railway station, thirty minutes from London's city centre, I was stopped by the London metropolitan police on anti-terrorism grounds. The police officer explained to me that he didn't think that I was a terrorist, but his presence was designed to reassure the public that the police were keeping a close eye on things. He asked me some questions and filled out a form. He wanted to know my name, age and where I was staying. To describe me, he wrote that I was wearing a brown hat, green jumper, blue jeans, and black shoes. That was greatly reassuring, as if I showed up the next day wearing a brown jersey instead of a green one, everything would be thrown into complete confusion. I could not remember the address of where I was staying, but that did not bother him. He simply wrote "declined" on the form. How all this is supposed to keep the nation safe from terrorism is unclear.

If only the British Library was as relaxed about the addresses as the police doing their anti-terrorism work with the general public. To read a book in one of their reading rooms, one must register with the library authorities. They require original documentation of home address, which must be less than three months old. If you cannot provide this documentation, you simply cannot view the books -- no exceptions made. Too bad if you are homeless, or like me because of circumstances cannot provide the documentation they want.

2 comments:

rolihlahla said...

>>I was stopped by the London metropolitan police on anti-terrorism grounds<<
On what specific grounds were you stopped and questioned? i reside in Canada and i'm afraid i don't quite understand this particular policy. Where does this form end up?

Interesting analogy with the British Library. When did they implement that policy requiring original documentation of one's home address? i can understand of course to loan out a book, one would require documentation; but simply to VIEW it ? Sounds quite strange. Something doesn't feel right when societies place too many restrictions on accessing books.

Damon Lynch said...

I was being questioned under anti-terrorism laws, as were others at the same railway station. When the police officer filled his quota he left.

There is more information here.

I have no idea about how long the library rules have been implemented like that. I do find them strange myself. It has stopped me from viewing books.