Police: Spotter could be bin Laden’s brother (From The Northern Echo)

Police: Spotter could be bin Laden’s brother

8:15am Saturday 10th January 2009 in Search By Dani Webb, Chief Reporter (South Durham)

A MAN says police told him he could be “bin Laden’s brother” after they saw him taking pictures of ships.

Leslie Cheyne, of Sedgefield, County Durham, said he was asked what he was doing by a Cleveland Police officer while enjoying his hobby at South Gare, in Redcar.

He said he was horrified to be asked if he had any terrorism connections and told that his details would be kept on file, even though he was not committing a crime.

Mr Cheyne, a member of the World Ship Society, said he had been boat spotting since 1977 and has never had a problem until now.

He said: “If I was doing something wrong and I was posing a threat to national security, I would hold my hands up, but I am doing nothing wrong. I have been all over the world photographing ships and I have never been treated like this.

“I phoned the police to complain and they said, ‘for all we know you could be bin Laden’s brother’.”

He said: “I have identification and would apply for a permit if I needed one, I just feel this has gone too far.

“It is not like shipping times are kept a secret, I get a list off the internet every day.

“They will not stop me doing this, it is my passion.”

Mr Cheyne, 60, spoke out after he read The Northern Echo’s article on trainspotters being questioned about terrorism for taking pictures of trains. He said that since the incident, on September 6 last year, he has noticed officers in the area, although no one has approached him since.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: “We are not aware that any complaint has been made by this gentleman but inquiries are ongoing.

“However, if seen in suspicious circumstances, members of the public may well be approached by police officers and asked about their activities.

It is an unfortunate consequence of the current threat levels facing the UK that police and public have to be more vigilant, and police officers will challenge where necessary.

“Photography of buildings and areas from a public place is not an offence and is certainly not something the police wish to discourage.

“Nevertheless, in order to verify a person’s actions as being entirely innocent, police officers are expected to engage and seek clarification where appropriate.”

Rail passengers stopped and searched

PASSENGERS at the region’s busiest railway station were yesterday searched by police using anti-terrorism powers.

Uniformed police randomly stopped morning rush-hour travellers at York.

Police said it was not an intelligence-led operation and there was no reason to believe that York was any more at risk from terrorism than anywhere else.

Passenger Steve Pratt, 60, who was travelling from York to Darlington, said: “You do not expect to get searched under the Terrorism Act when you are simply catching a train.” He said that after he was stopped by a female officer, he was required to give his name and address and other details such as his height and place of birth.

Mr Pratt, a Northern Echo journalist, said: “She wanted to search my bag and then she took my driving licence and took my details from them.

“I did not think about whether I could refuse until afterwards. I had a shoulder bag which only contained a newspaper, magazine and a bottle of water.”

Earlier this week, The Northern Echo reported how thousands of trainspotters were questioned by police last year at the region’s railway stations using anti-terrorism powers.

Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 allows uniformed officers to stop and search without reasonable suspicion.

Legal director of campaign group Liberty James Welch said its concern was that such powers were being used far too widely and inappropriately.

British Transport Police said it had been a routine operation, and said: “We aim to disrupt and deter any potential terrorist activity, and reassure the public that police are being active in ensuring their safety.”

A spokesman for National Express East Coast, which runs the station, said it supported the police actions.