[PatriotReporter]

Scotland plays host to FBI spy school (POLICESTATE)

sundayherald.com | 07/13.02 | By James Hamilton

Posted on 07/13/2002 6:49 PM Pacific by PatriotReporter

Scotland plays host to FBI spy school

Police chiefs from America and Canada gathered in Scotland yesterday for a week-long snooping session run by the FBI.

Overseas delegates to the conference at the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan Castle in Kincardine, Fife, said they had 'much to learn' from UK counterparts.

Organisers of the second conference of this year's FBI National Executive Institute (NEI) 25th session, have not released details of the event.

But one of those involved, Sheriff Paul Pastor, from Pierce County Sheriffs' Department in Washington state, said he hoped to discuss the issue of closed circuit television (CCTV) and its use in Britain.

He said: 'One of the reasons for coming here is that we have much to learn from policing in the UK, and especially Scotland.

'You are doing a number of things here, from CCTV to community policing, that I think we would do well to look towards.'

Pastor said the issue of CCTV and privacy was as controversial in the US -- where it is much less common -- as it is in the UK. He said his force was using the technology to identify traffic light offences rather than for general surveillance.

'When you balance the costs and efficiency of this kind of policing with allowing people to be seen on camera just as they would be seen in public I think that you begin to diminish the privacy concerns.'

The NEI was set up under former FBI director Clarence Kelly in 1976, and now meets three times each year.

About 30 police officials, mainly chiefs of forces from the US, Canada, England and Scotland, including Strathclyde Police Chief Constable William Rae, are attending the training programme.

[Great Dane]

We have a plexi cover on our plate, when they brought in camera's, the government decided the covers were illegal, as they also block out the info...... we still have them on, guess they couldn't find a way to back up their statement.

[NC_Libertarian]

I'm thinking about shooting out the cameras around where I live, but I'm worried I might be put away for 20 to life for "terrorism".

[jackbill]

Just more proof that entrepeneurs are smarter than government bureaucrats. But we knew that, didn't we?

[Securo]

I have a variation to mention about "the eliminator." I notice that in New YOrk City, all the arab taxi drivers are using something to obscure their licenses, which are supposed to be visible to the passenger.

[mewzilla]

These plastic cover things are illegal in New York State.

Too bad. Guess folks will just have obey the law and not drive like idiots.

[usadave]

I wonder if it would be legal to have a device on your car that, if you are caught speeding for example, would emit a large cloud of thick black smoke out of your exhaust pipe that would enable you to escape from the police. That seems to be the same kind of reasoning behind The Eliminator. You've committed a moving violation, but as long as you are sneaky and savvy enough to find a way to "beat the system", then you are in your right to do so.