Sorry, wrong house: Drug squad's sledgehammer raid nets a dinner lady drinking tea

Being from a country that doesn't heavily overcharge and under test their legal drugs, I don't have sympathy for illegal drug users... but that's in Canada.

When I look at the states, it's a totally different story.
The legal drugs available in the states are barely tested compared to other countries... and on top of this, these low grade meds are sold at outrageous prices.

When anti-depressants can kill people through the side effect, depression, one has to start wondering if there is an illegal option that won't cause you to want to commit suicide.

From what I've seen, marijuana seems to serve as an effective pain reliever and anti-depressant in many people (not everyone). And I've never met anyone who wanted to kill themselves out of depression when they're done using it... I have however, met MANY people who have wanted to, and even tried to kill themselves after running out of legal anti-depressants. I know of one who succeeded.

When that's what you see of the US Medical administration, you quickly start sympathizing with the illegal drugs available in the states.

As I said though, it's a different story when you live in a country where you can get your meds reasonably cheap, and you know they've been tested properly before release.
Up here there is simply no need for illegal alternatives.
Down there, there is.


[Edit] Funny enough, many of your illegal drugs are legal, or "de-criminalized" up here.
Go figure... I also see less people bothering with it up here.

[edit on 20-4-2008 by johnsky]

reply to post by jackinthebox


Only if they have intelligence that the occupants might be armed and even then, it isn't guaranteed. There were other raids as part of this op where a gun was found, but that doesn't mean armed officers attended the raid.

A primary difference between US and UK policing methods is that in the UK, they police by consent, whereas in the US the focus is on Law enforcement. Where possible, UK police will not arrest anybody and would much prefer to give you a bollocking and send you on your way..

The UK has a far lower Police per capita ratio than the US, with a total of less than 180,000 (cannot find an accurate number at the moment). Also, training is standard across all forces, whereas in the US, it appears to somewhat hap hazard.

[edit on 20/4/08 by stumason]

reply to post by stumason


That does it. I'm throwing in the towel. It's been a few hundred years, but I'm moving the family back. Beans and franks for breakfast!

reply to post by jackinthebox


Hehe, feel free chap. Get more "bang for your buck" here these days too, what with the sliding dollar. Apparently, we have a higher standard of living here, not to mention free healthcare

Hey guy's, ya think the "War On Drugs" (or WOD) could be the Government trying to make us "comfortable" with police bursting through our doors when ML happens? I think it could be, also I agree that it has to do with the CIA. In Wichita Falls about half the cops in the town are crooked. I used to work at a screen printing place there that sold drugs in the back (crack and weed I think), cops came by all the time, even the chief of police, IN UNIFORM! They would light it up and smoke a bit with our employed drug dealer. I threatened my boss to either put a stop to this or I will quit (I was the graphics artist, so my job was one of the most important ones) and bring the police into this (not all of the cops were crooked), so eventually the place went bankrupt cause everyone there was too strung out on drugs (except for me of course) to work, thank God that place went down. It's a sad thing that so many of our cops are crooked, in Wichita Falls they would take drugs aways from druggies and then sell them to drug dealers. We have prostitutes all over town and drug dealers all over town (my dad was an outreach pastor so I knew a lot of these folks. I even fell in love with a drug dealers daughter), the cops, they do NOTHING ABOUT IT! It infuriates me to see that the civil servants are helping to bring down america. I believe a lot of people who want to become a cop have good intensions at first, but the rest just bring them down to a lower state (I guess the movie "Training Day" is a lot closer to the truth than imagined). There's no stoping it, the cops have all the power, we have none, our government is run by criminals, so what can we do? All I can do is pray and try to help others and influnce them to do the right thing, hope for the best.

-Jimmy

reply to post by jimmyjackblack


This isn't so much about good cop/bad cop. Sure there are plenty of dirty cops, but that's really besides the point in this particular discussion.

But this really cuts to the chase...

Hey guy's, ya think the "War On Drugs" (or WOD) could be the Government trying to make us "comfortable" with police bursting through our doors when ML happens?

But forget about martial law. The conditions already exist right now. People are already used to it. Look at all the people who come out defend this sort of action by the police, as if they'll get brownie-points for it or something.

In a practical sense, what difference would it make right now if martial-law was declared? "Well, then the police could burst into your house even if you didn't do anything wrong." Uh-huh. Riiiiight.

Originally posted by stumason
Apparently, we have a higher standard of living here, not to mention free healthcare

Uh noooo nononono don't start doing what the idiot socialists do and call it "free healthcare." You know damn well it is not free.

I don't care if it's the ultimate Marxist utopia over there. They've taken your guns, your privacy, and more of your liberty with each passing day. Britain seems to be the proving ground for whatever authoritarian doctrine ultimately is enacted in the US. You've allowed yourselves to be coerced into serfdom and I for one am not going to sit back and allow it to happen to me.

reply to post by ChadAndrewATS


mind explaining to me (honest question) how society is supposed to operate with so many people high on crack, meth, weed, and so forth?

I am all for the legalization of weed, I see it as no different then alcohol or smoking a cigarette .. however.. some of the harder drugs.. I don't think so.

So seriously, how is society supposed to exist if the legalization and probably ending up in mass production of currently illegal drugs?

reply to post by jimmyjackblack


" Hey guy's, ya think the "War On Drugs" (or WOD) could be the Government trying to make us "comfortable" with police bursting through our doors when ML happens? I think it could be, also I agree that it has to do with the CIA."

When the secret police blend in with the local cops, [ i.e. russia/kgb, germany/gestapo ,it is all over.

Our ENEMY friendly newZ-casts rarely shine the light of day on this obvious breach to our constitution by the 5th column that folkss don't see, or don't wanna see.

It is very sad to see your own country dissolving before your eyes, something which could never occurred with a REAL free press. The real free press only exists on the net, everything else has the spin-masters twist to it.

I remember when as kids, we used to make fun of the russian newZ-cats, for having to be approved by the politburo first. How little did I know, that our own news had been taken over, long before I was even born. We grow up believing contradictions as truth until we wake up, then we realize what sheep we were all along and didn't have a clue.

Sorry, I'm getting depressed....

It's just a matter of time til we all get "the visit"., by bandits/thugs disguised as police.

[edit on 20-4-2008 by toasted]

reply to post by toasted

When the secret police blend in with the local cops, [ i.e. russia/kgb, germany/gestapo ,it is all over.

How about when your own neighbors are the spies?


Crime Beat: Tips from public help nab criminals

Originally posted by jackinthebox
reply to post by xxpigxx

 

The fact that the first replies immediately blame Bush and the US. WTH? Seriously. Other countries have their problems as well. I do not see how this ties into Bush and the US.

Are you kidding? Who do you blame for the drug problem in America?

The nickel-bagger on the corner that has no better job opportunity, and certainly doesn't own a boat or airplane to get the stuff into the country?

Or do you blame people like CIA, who have openly admitted to bringing in vast amounts of drugs into the US ?

Correct me if I am wrong, but did this story not happen in the UK?

What does that have to do with the US?

I was struck by how polite the Assault Team was when they found their error. I have the impression that here in the US, they throw down a couple of bags of drugs and a weapon, then haul you off anyway, just to not look bad!

I have a question, perhaps someone can help answer for me.

If an assault team launches a raid on your home, presumably mistakenly as in this case, why are you not considered to be the victim of an assault?

If any other organization than the Govt did this there would be hell to pay.

I would think a full military style assault would be considered an operation of such significance that their own chain of command, and the rest of the legal system would take treat it as an assault. I mean that in every sense of the word assault.

It seems they consider such things to be routine. So routine, that the identification of the target is sometimes incorrect. I would have thought that someone on the team would have had to do some form of verification reconisance before the raid. It appear that they just read a report and drive out somewhere and kick doors in ready for a war.

Perhaps someone with a better understanding of how society works can explain this for me. Why are the people with assault weapons and bullet proof vests allowed to be irresponsible for their actions, while the rest of us are held to strict standards?

reply to post by Cyberbian


1. It is NOT an Assault, it is the service of a Search Warrant, legally issued by judicial authority.

2.

I would think a full military style assault would be considered an operation of such significance that their own chain of command, and the rest of the legal system would take treat it as an assault. I mean that in every sense of the word assault.

I'm sure every criminal in the world would prefer that we conducted search warrants in jeans, tee shirts and without guns; thankfully we are allowed to arm ourselves appropriately. Having been in a number of armed engagements, I for one would not go into a residence and retrieve anything or anyone without my full gear.

So routine, that the identification of the target is sometimes incorrect.

If you read my post previously, you will find I explained the procedure quite clearly and there is nothing routine about it. There are numerous checks and balances however the human factor will always be present.

I would have thought that someone on the team would have had to do some form of verification reconisance before the raid. It appear that they just read a report and drive out somewhere and kick doors in ready for a war.

Completely answered in my previous post.

Why are the people with assault weapons and bullet proof vests allowed to be irresponsible for their actions,

There is nothing irresponsible about their actions. Again; see the previous post.

Semper

Solution: Reform the Drug Laws to pre "Harrison Narcotics Act of 1910".

Make Morphine, Codine, Heroin (Diacetylmorphinehydrochloride) and Cocaine available over the counter. Just pay cash and sign the poison register and your minimum purchase is a lethal overdose.

(This will bankrupt pushers and cut off their bribes to cops, as well as rapidly kill the undiciplined addicts.)

Require that all Police SWAT teams have as their official uniform PINK BALLET TUTUS. (This will get rid of all the super macho idiots.)

Originally posted by semperfortis
There is nothing irresponsible about their actions. Again; see the previous post.

Did you miss my reply to your previous post? Irresponsible is an understatement.

find it funny that the only people really commenting on this are Americans and seemingly talking about it like it happened in America, saying they should have done this and they would have done that, whilst spouting a lot of irrelevant information.

Again, THIS WAS A RAID IN BOLTON, ENGLAND, not the USA.

It wasn't an "Assault team", in "full military gear" or whatever. It was a raid by UNARMED CONSTABLES who wear body armour. These very same PC's will be the chaps patrolling around in the cars when not busting in doors.

As for the claim of the UK being the "testing ground for authoritarian rules" and accusations of serfdom, I assume you've actually been here, apc?

And yes, it is free. You don't have to have worked at all to get treatment, in fact, you don't even need to be a citizen. Even if you were here on holiday, you'd be entitled to treatment, completely free of charge.

I consider the small amount of my tax that goes towards the NHS a lot cheaper than paying for Private insurance and I don't have to worry about if I'm covered, or if my premiums will go up if I get ill.

You do know we have far less police per capita than the US and our officers aren't armed. Our police don't go shooting up stag parties or tazering 8 year olds, or raid the wrong house and shoot the occupants. Who's authoritarian?

Me me me me me. Somebody is paying the grosslyinflatedfromrationingandalackofcompetitivemarket bill. It might not be you. But somebody is getting screwed so that some lazy bum can get their scraped knee treated for "free."

No I've never been there and I never will. I hear enough of your fellow subjects cry out in such despair as to strike sufficient fear into the heart of any man who cherishes freedom above all.

But you're right... there's no assault tactics or anything. I mean... unless they think you're acting suspicious... then they chase you onto a bus and put a few bullets in your head.

reply to post by xxpigxx


Yes, this particular incident did happen in Britain. But the CIA probably supplies their drugs too. And at a nice discount too since they're helping us secure the poppy fields.

Originally posted by jackinthebox
reply to post by xxpigxx

 

Yes, this particular incident did happen in Britain. But the CIA probably supplies their drugs too. And at a nice discount too since they're helping us secure the poppy fields.

So all of this poppycock in the first three pages (starting with the first reply in the thread) of America bashing is because . . .?