The police have good intelligence regarding the conduct of -

[JSC]

We have a forum member who was shown a print out of their internet activity by their "Inspector & Sgt from the Firearms Dept," how did they get it? This isn't the first time I've heard the police monitor the internet airwaves, which is why the words on the NRA site stood out to me.

They got it the same way you or I would, not by using some mythical Police Internet Snooping System. (P.I.S.S)

Honestly, it's not that difficult to find out information about someone just by using tools and websites available to everyone. You certainly don't need to intercept everyone's internet traffic and the logistics of doing that would be way too obvious to keep a secret.

[Sim G]

It's really simple. Come to notice and they'll look at you.

You beat your Mrs. She won't support a prosecution and no independent witnesses. You'd be unlucky to get arrested, never mind charged, but the police would know. Your neighbour reports to the RSPCA that you kick your dog. No other witnesses that are prepared to support, but they'll know you kick your dog. Take a lackadaisical view of firearm storage, or push licensing to the eighth degree such as with the Eco trigger recently highlighted, you'll have come to notice.

Expect then to have what you've posted on Facebook and the likes, on the public internet, and open source research reveals it, a "picture" of your general conduct soon emerges. Couple that with other tools, home visit, club enquires, it wouldn't be difficult. And, those enquires would not necessarily be of a criminal nature, so the burden of proof is far below "beyond reasonable doubt".

The Chief Constable does not have to give a reason if he revokes your ticket

[HALODIN]

:) I'm not suggesting the police have these huge communications databases, but someone does. My bet is GCHQ have full access to it and when the FEO submits a background check, I'd bet my last dollar GCHQ furnishes part of the request.

On the one hand, I too cannot believe that they have the resources (having worked in the emergency services and with them also , over 20 yrs) BUT, on the other hand, I can believe some continuity ACPO g#ts, getting together and wasting OUR precious resources to bolster their own fantasy 1984 police state dreams.....
what to believe, what to believe??? .....no I really dont think CACPO have the smarts to do it properly, they might have wasted loads of money in many half arsed (it's the British way ) attempts only to fall into a hot sweaty cluster f#ck of failure at the end!!!
But the TV detector van thing does work and it's free , so there is that.
To be totally honest boys and girls, I have never posted anything on this or any other forum that I would not say in an open court, a public engagement or to the assistant/chief constable (have done many a time as well).
It is a rule of mine, and any police force who wants my name need only drop me a PM and I will supply it. It is a bad show when we are afraid to voice our opinions to PUBLIC SERVANTS!
THEY ARE NOT OUR MASTERS , it is they who should be watching what they say not us.
After that rant, let me just say to Sim G, yes I understand how nonsensical it seems but in the past, the police (among others) have devoted a disproportionate amount of energy, resources and propaganda , against what is essentially the most proven people in our society, so you can understand where others are coming from.
And remember, just because you are paranoid, it doesn't mean they are not after you !!!!
That's all I have to say bout thad.

[Sim G]

Maybe the Kent Police admin. staff & serving officers should have a few days in Edinburgh shadowing the staff there, as they seem to have the time for all sorts of extra curricular projects.
Their turnaround times can be atrocious compared to other areas of Police Scotland though.
Wonder why...?

Got to love that "Braveheart" representation you have up there....!!

[HALODIN]

The only thing that's mythical is your ability to find the real details of some random person on the web, where they haven't used their name in their username, signature or in a post. Try it.

They got it the same way you or I would, not by using some mythical Police Internet Snooping System. (P.I.S.S)

Honestly, it's not that difficult to find out information about someone just by using tools and websites available to everyone. You certainly don't need to intercept everyone's internet traffic and the logistics of doing that would be way too obvious to keep a secret.

[HALODIN]

I don't doubt any of that, but it still doesn't answer the question of how saddler was confronted with an anonymous forum post unless they're monitoring his internet access/footprint.

It's really simple. Come to notice and they'll look at you.

You beat your Mrs. She won't support a prosecution and no independent witnesses. You'd be unlucky to get arrested, never mind charged, but the police would know. Your neighbour reports to the RSPCA that you kick your dog. No other witnesses that are prepared to support, but they'll know you kick your dog. Take a lackadaisical view of firearm storage, or push licensing to the eighth degree such as with the Eco trigger recently highlighted, you'll have come to notice.

Expect then to have what you've posted on Facebook and the likes, on the public internet, and open source research reveals it, a "picture" of your general conduct soon emerges. Couple that with other tools, home visit, club enquires, it wouldn't be difficult. And, those enquires would not necessarily be of a criminal nature, so the burden of proof is far below "beyond reasonable doubt".

The Chief Constable does not have to give a reason if he revokes your ticket

[Gazoo]

And to be fair what are they gonna see if they trawl through our tinternet history...
A typical example of an evening of my computer searches would be,
.303
lee enfield
pizza delivery Durham
ebay/rcbs reloading
ebay/dillon
ebay/lee
on the beach cheap holidays
amazon/books/noggin the nog and the whale
youtube/S1,E1 Hyperdive
ebay/portable walrus polishers
Google/images/Naked Thai ladies
Thai curry deliveries Durham
youtube/Barry Manilow
ebay/land cruiser/spares
ebay/cigars
Google/holidays cuba
Google images/Naked Cuban ladies
youtube/Barry Manilow/Copacabana
ebay/sky remote
etc
etc
etc

[JSC]

The only thing that's mythical is your ability to find the real details of some random person on the web, where they haven't used their name in their username, signature or in a post. Try it.

Open your eyes. In Saddler's case, there's enough information in his profile to find out his name in about 10 seconds and he's already said he uses the same username across different forums.

Anyway, that's enough from me today. I'm off to open a beer and light the barbecue.

Take care everyone, you don't know who might be watching...

[JSC]

Google/images/Naked Thai ladies
Thai curry deliveries Durham
youtube/Barry Manilow

And now we all know how you spend your evenings

[HALODIN]

It's the ruddy principal of the thing, innit?

I can't believe you'd search for lee reloading gear. Have you no respect!

And to be fair what are they gonna see if they trawl through our tinternet history...
A typical example of an evening of my computer searches would be,
.303
lee enfield
pizza delivery Durham
ebay/rcbs reloading
ebay/dillon
ebay/lee
on the beach cheap holidays
amazon/books/noggin the nog and the whale
youtube/S1,E1 Hyperdive
ebay/portable walrus polishers
Google/images/Naked Thai ladies
Thai curry deliveries Durham
youtube/Barry Manilow
ebay/land cruiser/spares
ebay/cigars
Google/holidays cuba
Google images/Naked Cuban ladies
youtube/Barry Manilow/Copacabana
ebay/sky remote
etc
etc
etc