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Re:Activist arrested by London police after downloading docs... by jdjdu on Thursday August 12, 2021 @02:42PM (#28159894)
How? By investigating a report of a crime, determining it was false, and releasing the guy?
Re:Activist arrested by London police after downloading docs... by denton-scratch on Thursday August 12, 2021 @02:53PM (#28160026)
They charged him without any evidence. They were harrassing an activist. It wasn't incompetence.

[Edit: the article didn't say they charged him; I was wrong]

Well, that's how it looks to me, on the basis of a single report in a tech journal with a sort-of tabloid outlook. Maybe there will be more information in coming days.

Re:Activist arrested by London police after downloading docs... by feu on Thursday August 12, 2021 @03:52PM (#28160674)
>They charged him without any evidence.

The article explicitly says that the police did not charge him.

Re:Activist arrested by London police after downloading docs... by tssva on Thursday August 12, 2021 @03:53PM (#28160690)
No where in the article does it say they charged him with anything.
Re:Activist arrested by London police after downloading docs... by denton-scratch on Thursday August 12, 2021 @04:02PM (#28160784)
I'm wrong - they didn't charge him. I don't know why I wrote that - I had read the article.

But they did arrest him.

Re:Activist arrested by London police after downloading docs... by crimsoneer on Thursday August 12, 2021 @06:38PM (#28162516)
That's how the UK legal system works. An arrest is an investigative tool.
Re:Activist arrested by London police after downloading docs... by chrisseaton on Thursday August 12, 2021 @03:56PM (#28160714)
> They charged him

Eh?

Re:Activist arrested by London police after downloading docs... by bmsleight_ on Thursday August 12, 2021 @04:29PM (#28161022)
A British term, means formally charged with an offence. Police compile evidence and/or arrest a person. If the Police think there is enough of a case, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decide if there is enough evidence to support a 'charge'

https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/cps-says-role-cps-deciding-w...

Basically Police arrest, looked at the evidence then took no action as Police decided no crime - therefore not charged.

Re:Activist arrested by London police after downloading docs... by chrisseaton on Thursday August 12, 2021 @04:46PM (#28161229)
Yeah I know what it means. But he wasn’t charged. I don’t know why the person I’m replying to is saying that because it’s untrue.
Re:Activist arrested by London police after downloading docs... by denton-scratch on Thursday August 12, 2021 @07:05PM (#28162817)
You are right, he wasn't charged. He was arrested. I was wrong about that.
Re:Activist arrested by London police after downloading docs... by dheera on Thursday August 12, 2021 @02:46PM (#28159950)
There is no reason to take the guy into custard for downloading a file, he didn't do anything violent, and should be allowed to stay home as long as he cooperates with the investigation.

Cooperative people accused of non-violent crimes should NEVER be taken into custody until proven guilty in a court with fair trial.

Re:Activist arrested by London police after downloading docs... by mellosouls on Thursday August 12, 2021 @03:01PM (#28160117)
There is no reason to take the guy into custard for downloading a file

He was definitely in a jam

Re:Activist arrested by London police after downloading docs... by jdjdu on Thursday August 12, 2021 @04:57PM (#28161358)
>Cooperative people accused of non-violent crimes should NEVER be taken into custody until proven guilty in a court with fair trial.

Uh, so if someone set fire to a bunch of homes in a neighborhood, and there's video of them doing it, but they did it knowing the homes were empty, they should just be left free until the trial is over? I'm sorry but I feel like a lot of online comments on criminal justice are very shortsighted

Re:Activist arrested by London police after downloading docs... by unholythree on Thursday August 12, 2021 @07:41PM (#28163220)
A quick google search indicates arson is considered a violent crime in the US even though it is a property crime. I assume because of the high potential of injury or death. I do however agree with you that there are some property or financial crimes in which arresting a suspect would be warranted, especially if they had incentive to flee or intimidate potential witnesses.
Re:Activist arrested by London police after downloading docs... by dheera on Friday August 13, 2021 @02:39AM (#28166138)
Property crimes, yes, arrest.

Financial crimes, no. Holding them hostage isn't useful or productive. As long as they are cooperative with investigation, let them be until a verdict is reached.

It's too easy for governments to accuse people on a whim of financial "crimes" that aren't really crimes. That sets a very bad precedent for misuse of power. Next thing you know they'll be randomly arresting people from their bedroom for suspected tax evasion instead of auditing them. Not good for those who did follow the rules.

There are real crimes, yes, but there is too much grey area and there is no danger to people or property to let financial crime suspects be at home.

Re:Activist arrested by London police after downloading docs... by crimsoneer on Thursday August 12, 2021 @06:40PM (#28162530)
The reason will have been to secure any potential digital evidence. Could have done it with a warrant, but it's much of a muchness frankly