From Craig

August 11, 2006, Victoria Station, London

On August 10, 2006, I flew to Gatwick airport as part of my trip to Paris. This was a day after the latest terrorism furry where the British police uncovered a plot to blow up trans-atlantic flights leaving from Heathrow using some kind of chemical mixture brought on board disguised as drinks, gels, cosmetics, etc. As a result, I was not allowed to bring any of said items as part of my carry on luggage.

I arrived at about 8:30 am, August 11, 2006 at Gatwick airport. From there, I had to catch a train (the Gatwick Express) to Victoria Station. My destination within London was Waterloo station (a 2 km walk from Victoria Station) as that is where the Eurostar train leaves London bound for Paris.

I got off of the Gatwick express and noted that Victoria state was rather an interesting looking building. I decided I'd like to get a video and some shots of the interior of the building. I like to take a short panoramic video because it provides a context for any pictures that I take. The video I shot is here:

VictoriaStation.MOV (http://craig.afox.org/data/movies/VictoriaStation.MOV)

As you can see, I am standing in the middle of everything. At the very end of the movie, you can hear a British Transport Police officer addressing me. I ended the video just as he started addressing me.

He proceeded to tell me that they were doing high profile searches and that he wanted to search me because I was taking pictures within Victoria Station. I indicated that I didn't know that I wasn't allowed to take pictures within Victoria Station and he indicated that it wasn't forbidden. He notified me that he was able to legally search me without cause.

When you are in a foreign land, you are subject to their laws, period. I figured the quickest way to deal with this is to consent to the search; I had to get to Waterloo station to catch the Eurostar to Paris. I indicated to him that I consented to the search.

At this point, I want to make it clear that the police officer who searched me was a really nice fellow and he didn't make me feel threatened in any way. He was very courteous and I really enjoyed talking with him. In fact, we had a very pleasant conversation while he was going through the search procedure.

He filled out the following form:

Please note that I have removed all information which would specifically identify myself or the police officer who performed the search. On the form, it indicates that I was being searched under section 44.2. I have also scanned in the reverse of the search record form which describes section 44.2

I wanted to show the search report form to show that this was a real search and that I'm not just making things up. The search included a search of my person as well as my luggage. My luggage included my backpack and my suitcase.

After he filled out the form, we went off to a secluded corner of Victoria Station (although it was still in a public place) where he searched my person. He started by asking if there was anything sharp that he should know about. I replied that I had a pen in one of my pockets. The search involved me removing all of the items from my pocket and turning my pockets inside out. I was wearing a jean jacket which had several pockets which were searched. I had a quick pat down (although I didn't have to put my hands against a wall or anything).

Next was a search of my backpack. I opened up the main compartment and described each item to him. Basically, the backpack was my carry on luggage so it had all the stuff I took on the plane with me: books, my sweater, my pens, snacks (chocolate), etc). In the outer pockets of my backpack I had my pocket computer and keyboard in one pocket and my tissues and glasses case (complete with sunglasses).

Next was the search of my main luggage. Luckily, I had read the Transport Canada Website the day before and I packed my bag accordingly. The website specifically mentioned how to pack your bag so as to facilitate an efficient search (presumably if you are searched by customs agents; who knew that it would also come in handy if I was searched by the British Transport Police). Everything was very methodically placed and items were easily identifiable. The police officer commented that I packed better than he did. He noted the cat fur on the outside of the suitcase and he asked if I had dogs. I told him that I had cats and that the remaining cat fur on the suitcase was there despite 20 minutes with the lint remover!

Again, let me reiterate that the search itself didn't bother me. The officer in question was obviously just doing his job and I can't fault him for that in any way. I think he is a delightful person and it would be great to meet him in a social setting someday. When I went back to Victoria Station on my way back to Canada, I was hoping that I would run in to him in Victoria Station again so that I could have another chat with him.

What does bother me, however, is that I was searched. When I was in grade 12 (oh so many years ago), my high school Social Studies teacher told us a story of when he chaperoned a group of students on a trip to the Soviet Union. Keep in mind that this was during the cold war and the Soviet Union was somewhat of an oppressive state. He told us about how some of the male students tried to bring in Playboy magazines into the country and this caused them problems at the border. He also told us about how one student had stolen towels from the hotel and that the bus was stopped and searched until the towels were returned. Finally, he told us about how some students were detained for taking pictures of a building they weren't supposed to be taking pictures of (although they didn't know it was forbidden). When we heard this story we all laughed at the absurdity of it all. Little did I know that I would be experiencing my own detention and search in a allegedly democratic country for the same reason only 21 years later.

Again, while the search did not intimidate me, it really put me off England generally. I was thinking of taking a vacation in England next year and I am not likely to do so. In fact, I currently feel that I would never like to return to England again. Perhaps that's what they want; I don't know. I suppose that it would mean one less person to feed their paranoia.

I hope that the police officer who searched me reads this article. During our conversation I learned that he liked to ski and I told him that there's lots of great skiing here (although I don't ski myself). I would be more than happy to provide him with information about the ski hills, hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, camping, etc in this area. Hell, I'd like to take him out to dinner should he ever have the chance to visit here!