Man arrested for charging phone on London train

Credit: Guardian composite/Hannah Jane Parkinson

Unfortunately, this isn’t one of those stories where a startling headline appears above a story that explains why it was all reasonable & fair.

Actually, it gets worse.

Robin Lee plugged his iPhone into an outlet in a London train. A police community support officer took exception to, “abstraction of electricity”, & Robin Lee was arrested. Subsequently, in a blinding flash of reasonableness, he was released from arrest.

Thereafter he was re-arrested because of, “unacceptable behaviour”, & “becoming aggressive”.

People aren’t at their best when they have been arrested on specious grounds.

Lessons learnt:

1. In the UK, there is an offence known as “abstracting electricity”, with a maximum custodial sentence of five years, although this is, presumably, aimed at cases of, “abstraction”, of hundreds or thousands of pounds worth of electricity.
2. It is hard to see arrest as necessary for “abstraction” of, at most, pennies worth of electricity.
3. Power surges due to the vagaries of power supply in electric trains mean that the financial risk to Robin Lee’s phone may have been greater than the risk to the public purse.
4. Without wanting to pre-judge anyone’s behaviour, no matter how petty, unreasonable, or officious an official may be, it is prudent to deal with them in a calm & considered way. This applies no matter how minor the official. Less important officials may feel a need to over-compensate for their lack of status, & their egos more easily bruised. Such traits are sometimes the reason why some officials remain, “minor”.
5. Point 4 shouldn’t be taken to imply that meeting petty, unreasonable &/or officious behaviour calmly & with consideration, is easy :)
6. Always carry a backup battery.

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jul/13/man-arrested-charging-iphone-london-overground-train

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2015/07/man-arrested-for-charging-iphone-on-london-train/ / accused British Transport police overzealous ridiculous arrest arrested charging his iPhone socket London Overground train Robin Lee 45-year-old artist Islington handcuffed British Transport Police station Caledonian Road arrest abstracting electricity arrested second offence unacceptable behaviour becoming aggressive objecting to his prior arrest police spokesman decision further action made in due course confronted police community support officer overground train Hackney Wick Camden Road Overground Transport London’s wider network London Underground buses abstracting electricity it’s a crime four police officers platform abstracting electricity arrested abstracting electricity offence under section 13 Theft Act 1968 carries a maximum custodial sentence of five years tweeted incident posted arrest sheet incredulous overzealous community support officer ridiculous ridiculous de-arrested offence statement Camden Road London Overground station report man becoming aggressive challenged PCSO use of a plug socket onboard Overground train suspicion of abstracting electricity de-arrested further arrested unacceptable behaviour reported offence electricity sockets Overground trains clearly marked cleaners use only not for public use forum dedicated to the London Underground plug sockets trains cleaning equipment when trains are in depots recommend not charging electronic equipment risk of power surge directly plugged damaged section gaps power supply changes from one substation to another /