‘Auditors’

If they’re so comfortable being on the right side of the law, why are they dressed like the bastard lovechild of roadman and a navy seal?

I once went out early one morning to take some deserted sunrise photos in the shadow of Torness.

The police appeared and asked what I was up to. I showed them my crap pictures. Then the rest of the memory card. At no point did I start filming them and try to provoke them. I went off to luck my wounds over a crap photo mission they went back to probably another uneventful shift.

Onto auditors, I’d accept they just got into these situations if there was no camera but the fact they keep getting into these situations leads me to believe they go looking for it.

I wonder how many pick the wrong business and find themselves pleading with less law abiding security types.

Onto the audited sites. I do believe there are a lot of piss poor security staff who got into the job to bully and intimidate and similar crap businesses breaking the law.

Taking the discussion elsewhere, when does auditing step into investigative journalism or activism (environmental or animal welfare) (I think I know the answer to this or my interpretation of it but thought I’d open it to the floor)

Taking the discussion elsewhere, when does auditing step into investigative journalism or activism

I don’t think it bears any resemblance to either of the two. Where are you seeing a correlation? Closest I can get is that all three groups have likely been attacked or abused at some point. I’ve much more sympathy for journalists and activists as they’re actually doing something of benefit

Onto auditors, I’d accept they just got into these situations if there was no camera but the fact they keep getting into these situations leads me to believe they go looking for it.

I wonder how many pick the wrong business and find themselves pleading with less law abiding security types

It was previously mentioned but this phenomenon started off in America where your stereotypical gun loving MAGA types would bleat on about “MY TAX DOLLARS” and go to film police stations, court houses, city halls etc, and without giving them too much credit, you can at least make the case for public interest in what goes on in those places.

Contrast that with the UK video posted earlier in the thread of the guys “auditing” a Taylor Wimpey compound. There is zero argument for a justified public interest in what’s going on there. I’m fairly certain that’s not where our lizard overlords aren’t congregating en masse to shed their skins and plan world domination. Ergo, the only reason to audit sites like that is to deliberately stir up controversial encounters to drive views of their videos.

These people are absolute losers. The very worst types. Oddball weirdos that have failed at life and are desperate for some kind of validation. Impotent with rage at their lack of success and authority, this is their way to show “the man” that they mean business.

Contrast that with the UK video posted earlier in the thread of the guys “auditing” a Taylor Wimpey compound. There is zero argument for a justified public interest in what’s going on there. I’m fairly certain that’s not where our lizard overlords aren’t congregating en masse to shed their skins and plan world domination

Thats what they want you to think 🤔

Near to me a Taylor wimpy, Cala, Avent and Bellway. A meeting point of some of the lizards?

I’m fairly certain that’s not where our lizard overlords aren’t congregating en masse to shed their skins and plan world domination

Take the initials TW and put the W before the T and flip it on its side and you get ET.
They are openly admitting it!

😂😂😂

I think the whole Auditor thing crosses over with the whole ‘Sovereign Citizen’ Anti-vax/environmentalism/woke/etc/etc conspiracist grifters. People looking to create “controversy” and gain an income from monetising videos about very little.
The jackpot is when they manage to be objectively unpleasant while technically remaining just the right side of legal, and making some poor sod look/behave poorly.

It definitely follows on from the Westboro Baptist Church and their habit of turning up mob-handed outside abortion clinics, Vets (Veterans) help centres, anything to do with LGBTQ+, waving signs, harassing people, using loudspeakers, etc, in order to deliberately provoke a reaction, so they can go to court and claim damages. As virtually all of them have been through law school, they know exactly what buttons to push, and where not to cross lines. They’re repulsive parasites, but do get pushback…

There is a weird section of society who get there pants wedged up their bum crack when they see someone with a camera.
” you cant film me in public, its illegal”

Makes you wonder if they shout at the millions of static cctv that are everywhere in the UK, or they are oblivious to the smoked glass domes.

I guess there is a difference to a cctv static camera, to a manned tracking camera, to a scrufy man with a go pro pointing it in your face. But if its in public you can turn round, walk way and let them film the outside of a building whilst trying to provoke some hapless, bored dimwit into confrontation to generate click bait title for their yputube channel.

why are they dressed like the bastard lovechild of roadman and a navy seal?

That’s also how I imagine some of the posters in the Ukraine thread dress…

There is a weird section of society who get there pants wedged up their bum crack when they see someone with a camera.
” you cant film me in public, its illegal”

Yep. A lot of these people appear to be in Security jobs from what I’ve witnessed. All that’s required is to ignore the idiots and starve them of the oxygen they need, and let the members of the public go about their lawful activity. Just be professional and know the rules (Security guards who are public facing really should know the difference in the rules around photography from a public area and on a private site) and don’t get aggressive and shouty when a member of the public offers to show you the rules on the CAA website on their phone.

With sound.. World needs more Grohl….

Yeah I’ve seen a few of these videos but not met any off them in real life fortunately.

“I’M A FREEMAN OF THE LAND I CAN DO WHAT I WANT STATE ABUSE POLICE BRUTALITY BLAH BLAH BLAH” types. Covid vaccine / 5G conspiracy nuts. Basically just a UK wing of the nutty US Libertarian / Far Right.

File under mental illness / extreme narcissism and get on with your day. These people thrive on attention and conflict. Best thing to do is ignore them or even better, give them a cheery hello.

 let the members of the public go about their lawful activity.

Which is fine, but if you’re a min. wages security and some dickhead dressed all in black with a balaclava and sunglasses comes to your site and sticks a camera in your face, and refuses to stop filming after being asked to stop ( not illegal, sure, but basic curtesy?) then it’s going to only go one way isn’t it?

You’ll have noticed, no doubt that this (very right wing) govt wants to make it a chef constable’s sole discretion about what defines public protest. (which could be just one person) I’d imagine that if they keep doing this at places like cop shops, then the rights they say they’re “protecting or upholding” will pretty rapidly get restricted for the rest of us.

Had one on a site I worked at ~30 years ago on a grad training scheme.

He used to come by about once a month and take photos and tell security that we were killing the planet (it was a chemical factory, so we probably were) and he would take photos to prove it and no one could stop him. You can’t see much from outside, so no one cared much. Worst thing about him was that he’d see someone leaving and follow them, telling them how evil they were.

Anyway, one morning we turn up at work and there been a plausible terrorist threat to blow up a chemical factory. And we have thousands of gallons of highly massively explosive chemicals on site. So they’ve got police in doing enhanced security checks on new starters (me), no more day passes if you forget your security card, all contractors sent off site, extra security around the site. But not the normal guys, it’s either armed police or military. Big blokes with guns, bullet proof vests and helmets.

Few days later this guy turns up with his camera. Starts ranting at the front gate.

Within about 90 second he’s cuffed, face down on the floor, with large guys pointing machine guns at him. And then the area being cleared while his bag was inspected. From what I understand, he was held for a few days under whatever passed for the terrorism act in the early 90s until they could work out who he was and what he was doing and who he was connected to. Absolutely zero reporting of anything except “man arrested at chemical factory”.

They eventually found the bomb at another factory.

Unsurprisingly, he didn’t come back again.

The jackpot is when they manage to be objectively unpleasant while technically remaining just the right side of legal, and making some poor sod look/behave poorly.

Speaking as a former STW moderator, this approach is not uncommon. 😁

in the majority of the videos I’ve watched, the attitude and winding up is initiated by the jobsworth who approaches the auditor

Did you actually watch the video posted by Robocock? One of the closing comments by the filmers is how effective a headbutt is.

Who audits the auditors that’s what I want to know.

The guy in the blue hi-vis who got assaulted three separate times by the ‘auditor’ as soon as he rolled up with a camera.

We’re all coming at this from different positions/viewpoints.

I’m a (shit) amateur photographer, I know a bit about where you can and can’t photograph, and about related jobsworths who don’t. Several other posters likewise. I have little patience for “you can’t… [do something I’ve just made up]”

But rolling up on private property videoing and wearing a goddamn balaclava is antagonistic at best. Why does he need to cover his face? “To help with editing” according to that video. Bollocks, that’s not normal behaviour, he’s a threat to the operational security of the site and potentially at risk of reasonable suspicion under the Terrorism Act.

I take the point here, and agree to an extent, but squealing about personal space and shoving people around when you’ve intentionally put yourself up in the grill of a security guard, when you’re dressed as a burglar and your hero mate with a camera is egging you on to ‘stand your ground,’ he’s lucky he didn’t get tasered. Or perhaps unlucky, that’d probably have been quite lucrative for him.

That guard in the video showed remarkable restraint, I’m far from a fighter but the first time that little prick laid hands on me I’d have taken the opportunity to knock him into Thursday on the grounds of self defence.

This phenomenon started off in America

Aye.

I wish I could find it again, but a couple of years back I watched a video of some kid “exercising his second amendment rights” or some other such twaddle, walking through a city centre with an assault rifle on his back. The police were called and attended, they asked what he was doing, he replied “exercising my rights” and the police went “OK, sure, but you’re scaring people, and if you want to swing by the station at the weekend we’ll give you some training on how to use it.”

Who audits the auditors that’s what I want to know.

The guy in the blue hi-vis

I think you miss my point.

Did you actually watch the video posted by Robocock?

Ya cheeky beggar!
Factually correct though.👍😁

I’m not sure what videos you’re talking about Cougar but what I saw looked like public road outside a site. If the idiot was inside of course the guard has the right to eject him using force if necessary. If outside, the guard can do jack shit and should know that if he’s been trained adequately.

So, i offered him to come inside and he could have a brew and one of the lads could give him a tour round if that’s his jam

That’s an inspired idea. No doubt he was upset that he didn’t get his confrontation.

Was he the guy with the drone?

Who audits the auditors that’s what I want to know.

Susan.

And you most definitely do not want to **** with her.

Sto Helit?

Who else?

Boyle? She doesn’t look like someone out would be wise to pick a fight with

Wasn’t my first thought but the threat of #analbumparty might put some of them back in their box. Or give them something else to do. Whatever.

I’m not sure what videos you’re talking about Cougar but what I saw looked like public road outside a site.

Eventually.

In any case, if you walked in my general direction and I shoved you repeatedly in the chest, would that be OK? Regardless of any rights of access it was the YouTuber who escalated from verbal to physical and does that not cross a line?

Regardless of any rights of access it was the YouTuber who escalated from verbal to physical and does that not cross a line?

As the police officer who dealt with the case explained when I was assaulted by a driver, you can shout and holler at each other as much as you like, but the first one to touch the other generally loses legally.

As the police officer who dealt with the case explained when I was assaulted by a driver, you can shout and holler at each other as much as you like, but the first one to touch the other generally loses legally.

Aye, at that point you’ve potentially commited common assault. Also if others witness you actions you could also be looking at affray.

In any case, if you walked in my general direction and I shoved you repeatedly in the chest, would that be OK? Regardless of any rights of access it was the YouTuber who escalated from verbal to physical and does that not cross a line?

If you march right up to me and get in my face then I’m fully entitled to push you away. Your behaviour in these circumstances is already an assault (which does not require contact, merely reasonable fear of it) and pushing you away is a reasonable way to maintain distance (NB in the vid the auditor was also backing away, but the guard was marching up aggressively and persistently).

Your behaviour in these circumstances is already an assault (which does not require contact, merely reasonable fear of it)

Hmm.

Perhaps the gentleman had a reasonable fear that the balaclava clad person in question posed a threat. You would have to be pretty naive or stupid to think a balaclava doesn’t have the capacity to intimidate.

That’s the key if I recall. As long as your response to a perceived threat is reasonable then you’re on steady ground.

Certainly been the case on the few occasions I’ve had to throw hands with bellends.

Shame these sorts are out there, must have very shallow lives to need a rise from others to feel a purpose or point to their lives.

You could certainly try arguing that squirrelking, but the video that I watched a bit of showed balaclava man backing off and trying to keep a distance between them, the guard was the one confronting. You can make up whatever you want about something that may have happened prior of course.

The thing is captain, you appear to be the only one seeing this in that video. Pretty much everyone else sees an absolute dickhead, hiding his face and purposefully antagonising somebody who is just trying to do his job. What does this tell you?

I posted earlier, and I’m no internet warrior and am more than capable of looking after myself, I would’ve beaten the ever living shit out of the guy as soon as he touched me. Maybe make him think twice about being a dickhead.

What it tells me is that most people don’t understand the law (or don’t care to) and allow their dislike for someone (someone’s behaviour) to over-rule the facts and law as they actually apply. Which isn’t a particular surprise, though it’s always disappointing to be reminded of it.

You sound like a lovely person.

So you’ve watched the opening 30 seconds or so and completely ignored the rest then? Because none of us are speculating anything. He was being deliberately provaocative and brought that on him self “GET BACK HERE!” well here he came and big brave balaclava ran away like a scared wee boy. Play stupid games win stupid prizes.

The manager should be credited with not lamping the **** right there as he clearly knew better.

As the police officer who dealt with the case explained when I was assaulted by a driver, you can shout and holler at each other as much as you like, but the first one to touch the other generally loses legally.

Well, they were wrong. Maybe aside from the “generally” part, anyway.

You can’t do that as much as you like at all. If someone’s behaviour puts you into a position where you feel in danger, even if they don’t physically touch you, it can still be considered to be an assault.

If you march right up to me and get in my face then I’m fully entitled to push you away.

No you aren’t. Two wrongs, and all that.

You may well be if, as you said yourself, you felt under threat of imminent violence and were acting in self-defence. That was very clearly not what was happening in this particular case. PJ and Duncan were increasingly desperate for the guard to lose his cool and lamp them one because they’d have dined out on it for months.

You sound like a lovely person.

thanks, I am generally. But I wouldn’t put up with abuse from an absolute throbber wearing a balaclava and acting the big man. I’d just go a bit far in defending myself from a bully. A case of be careful who you pick on.