salith @salith@computerfairi.es

@sodiboo when I was a librarian, we would often get requests from police to access records. This is legal, but they needed two things: 1) a warrant, and 2) a Section 48 form.

They would often come in without both of these and I would tell them that I can’t help them. They would always say shit like “Um, but it’s part of a police matter. It’s urgent”. And then I would say “well, the Libraries and Museums Act say that you need to come back with a warrant and a S48 form. If you don’t have them, I can’t help you.”

They would often try to pressure me and intimidate me, but I would stand my ground. Then they would always ask to speak to my manager, and she would say the same thing (but with a bit more diplomacy). The form exists so that we know that their request to access a patron’s sensitive information is legit. What library books you use, what you browse on the computers, etc is all sensitive information and giving that information out is no bueno.

The thing is that a S48 form is trivial to complete, but I have NEVER, in all seven years of working there, ever seen a cop come back with a completed form. It seems that just a little bit of bureaucracy is a good thing.

RE: https://gaysex.cloud/notes/a5tt47yrqdjd04gt

When considering the state of civil rights in the UK today, the only thing you need to know is that an 87 year old Holocaust survivor was called in for questioning by the Metropolitan Police for attending a completely peaceful anti-genocide rally.

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/supporters-cheer-holocaust-survivor-quizzed-police-over-gaza-protest

#FreePalestine #UKPolitics #PoliceState

@dick_turpin reminds me of this epic car chase.