procedures for dealing with an IB ?

[NWpostie]

Say if you get confronted by an IB, what can they do and what can you demand off them ? such as ID card, verifiable phone number etc, as far as I am aware they don't have Police powers so they cannot detain you or search your car/house without your permission.

any further to add to this ?

It would give me great pleasure not to make it easy for them, I know I will not be doing anything illegal or steal mail etc

can you also complain against them and get a satisfactory outcome ?


somebody at work got pulled by them, however it was his own fault and using his own car to (failure to secure mail) and not delivering D2Ds, they took his mobile phone off him, when somebody rang him, I am sure they can't do that.

[dblad]

I was on my walk when 1 came running towards me asking me to hold on, I actually thought he was wanting directions at first, His only form of ID was a picture card the same as ours, he started asking me things but I gave him a hard time telling him that spying on people was illegal and that we should have been warned they were in the area and some more, then he just said..ok carry on the good work jumped in his car and drove off.

[london sub]

Are the IB the police now by taking personal property. I don't think there was any reason of taking the mobile off of him, unless he was hiding something from them...but even that, what the hell would he be hiding, a small letter concealed within the mobile phone.

[TeeferTiger]

Are the IB the police now by taking personal property. I don't think there was any reason of taking the mobile off of him, unless he was hiding something from them...but even that, what the hell would he be hiding, a small letter concealed within the mobile phone.

You've seen the size of some of the "cards" we have to deliver to some people nowadays!? The stamp barely fits on the envelope.

[andy2007]

No, they can't take any personal property off you (that's theft!). Thankfully, I've never been interviewed as a suspect by them. But if they did feel the need to, I'd just phone the local Police, and ask them to deal with the situation. And I suggest that everyone else puts the number of their local Police Station in their phone too. IB can only REQUEST an interview with you, and can't detain you. They have to have your co-operation. If they lock you in a room (as has happened to someone already), then it's wrongful imprisonment. If they try to use physical force, to prevent you leaving, that's Common Assault (an arrestable offence). Neither can they search you, or any of your property (e.g. Car), unless you give them permission to do so.

Obviously, if you're accused of an offence, it's in your interests to get it dealt with ASAP. But unless you CHOOSE to allow IB to interview you, you have the right to have the Police interview you under caution, instead. IB can always get access to your interview afterwards anyway. And at least the Police are subject to strict rules, to ensure that you're dealt with in a fair and just way.

[andy2007]

I was on my walk when 1 came running towards me asking me to hold on, I actually thought he was wanting directions at first, His only form of ID was a picture card the same as ours, he started asking me things but I gave him a hard time telling him that spying on people was illegal and that we should have been warned they were in the area and some more, then he just said..ok carry on the good work jumped in his car and drove off.

It shouldn't have been exactly like ours. The IB cards are slightly different, although you might not have noticed it at the time. If it happens again, look a bit more closely at it, to make sure that it's really IB. Just to be on the safe side.

[brothermagrew]

andy2007

How do you then know that the IB cards are slightly different considering the fact that you have never been interviewed as a suspect by them.

[Judgee]

They have no extra powers to detain you, take your things, etc anymore than a complete stranger in the street. If one does stop you, tell them you will speak with them in the office when you have confirmed thier identity from a reliable source. They cannot hold this against you as you are protecting the mail. Anyone could try and stop you using a fake ID you have no idea what they me be up to. Cover your own back, all mail that leaves the office with you is your responsibility so treat anyone like this with extreme suspicion! If they refuse to go away and insist on harrassing you call the police.

[POSTMAN]

If you get pulled and they want to take things further like searching and your name ect,make your way back to your office and do it there,not on the street!

I'll be f****d if i'm doing that s**t on the street,and i don't care what they think.

[andy2007]

andy2007

How do you then know that the IB cards are slightly different considering the fact that you have never been interviewed as a suspect by them.

I work indoors, and they do periodic security checks. We aren't told when they're coming, so when I see someone I don't recognise, I challenge them for their ID. So does everyone else for that matter. It's one of the things they check-up on. Probably because we collect and distribute all the commercial mail for our region, and send it to whichever region or local MC it's destined for. So we have a very large quantity of high value items every day. Many of which would be easy to steal. So security is rather strict. I've lost count of how many IB I and my collegues have stopped over the years.

I've heard rumours from time to time, that they've been working under-cover (using normal ID cards of course), to check up on us. But whether that's true or not, I've no idea.