Rodney King UK
Heading back into town after doing some filming on the cliffs nearby, we found ourselves in the middle of a "ring of steel", which was in place because the government were having their annual conference in town. Armed police everywhere, metal detector arches on the streets and a general feel of paranoia and tension all around.

Now, the star of our little film, who was in the passenger seat, was shielding his eyes from the harsh glare of the sun. This was interpreted by the police as an attempt to hide his face, and we were pulled over. A very shouty man stuck his head in the window and bellowed at us.

"You! Why are you hiding your face?"

"I have a hangover"

"What's your name?"

"Martin #####"

"Where are you from?"

"Erith."

"What part of Ireland is that?"

This question baffled us, as Erith is in Kent and decidedly - almost painfully - English. So English that Kate Bush was born there. Correcting the cop's dubious knowledge of geography did little to sooth him, and we were subjected to a more shouty questions, and threats to haul us out and generally make Martin's hangover something he'd look back on fondly. Eventually, however, we managed to convince Mr Shouty that we were not dangerous revolutionaries, and he waved us on.

As we drove away, we all commented that we thought we were going to get arrested / body searched / beaten up / disappeared. At that point I noticed that the video camera, which was sitting on my lap, had been accidentally switched on and had been recording the entire encounter.

It's kind of a pity he didn't get violent. Would have made great news footage!
(moon monkey is busy making memories worth repressing, Mon 9 May 2011, 11:33, Reply)