Re: "UK is 'not a surveillance state'"
Put on a list, certainly. It will crop up the next time you renew a passport or something.
Saw that on my nephew's stuff once. Police check when applying for a job.
A list of dates, "charged with", and the crimes the scumbags falsely charged him with.
Not one mention of the outcomes, charges either dropped or found "not guilty" at trial. Some of the charges were, shall we say, "forcibly dropped" at the beak's insistence.
They love pointing out someone was "investigated", "interviewed in connection with" (ie they were the main witness but the police took a dislike to you since you didn't say everything they "encouraged" you to say - so they word things to make it sound like you were guilty or an accomplice), and if they really want to cause upset "charged with..." even though they dismiss the charges before they get to court it stays on your record and there is no need for them to declare the results. They don't ever say "We knew this was bogus therefore dropped the charges", they just say "we charged him with carnal knowledge of the neighbour's rooster" or some other fluff.
Amazing what harm a few little words can do :(
Biting the hand that feeds IT
