by Tessa K » Mon Oct 05, 2009 11:38 am

Someone emailed us at work to say that he was arrested for criminal damage after filling in one of the Alpha Course 'questionnaires' at a tube station. This is what he wrote to the British Transport Police:

On Friday 18th September 2009 at 3.45pm I was confronted with a questionnaire which I understand was
lawfully pinned to the wall on London Bridge railway station, platforms 1 and 2, inviting members of the public to participate by ticking the appropriate box.

The question, “Does God Exist”, was very straight forward, and “No” was obviously the correct answer. I was particularly concerned that vulnerable people exposed to the alternative answers of “Yes” and “Probably” were at risk of exploitation by individuals who might attach a set of rules and obligations to those who hope that some super-being will take responsibility for their lives, or intervene in some other way.

I felt the offered answer “Probably”, to be particularly sinister. It was for this reason I chose to engage with the questionnaire and ensure that
the correct answer was ticked. As a result of responding to this questionnaire I was arrested by a plain clothes police officer. Two other plain clothes police officers were in attendance. I was informed that I had been seen ticking the correct answer on CCTV.

As I sat caged in the back of the police van I counted 6 police officers who were attending this incident, which was presented to me as being
criminal damage. My tick was entirely within the specified “No” box, and the questionnaire was not damaged in any way. Interestingly the arresting police officer spent much of his time ticking similar multiple choice boxes on a questionnaire of his own. I understand that I am required to pay an £80 penalty notice fine, or attend court. I am left with little choice but to ask that this matter be dealt with by the court.

In Croydon - home of Ikea's UK headquarters.