Profiled by the police

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I've always had trouble mixing in social situations where I don't know people. I can't "schmooze" or make small talk. In such situations, I usually hang to the side and keep to myself, which has never been too big a problem -- until I got profiled as a potential assassin.

My company bought a couple of tables at an awards luncheon for some journalists from foreign countries who had shown courage in standing up to threats, violence and imprisonment, and for some reason, I was invited to fill one of the seats. When I arrived at the hotel where the luncheon was being held, I was steered into a pre-lunch mixer in a side room. I was standing off to the side the way I always do in such situations, scanning the room for familiar faces, when I felt someone come up behind me and pat me on the right side. The guy casually said hi, shook my hand and asked if I was there to cover the event. I explained that I was just there to represent my company and asked him if he was a journalist. He said, "No, I'm a police detective with the dignitary protection unit." He went on to explain that the way he'd approached me, patting me on the side as he had, was his way of seeing if I was carrying a gun under my jacket and that he had decided to check me out because of the way I'd been standing off to the side instead of schmoozing.

How fun is that? Anybody else been profiled as a criminal?

I wouldn't get too worked up over it. Presumably the detective has been trained to investigate certain "unusual" behaviors because it is his job to do so. I'd find it reassuring that, once he'd determined that you were not a potential threat, he chose to share with you what he was doing, and why. You might view that as an apology (of sorts).

Unfortunately not all police forces have autism awareness training systems in place.

I agree with Lupine. That kind of stuff isn't that unusual. He has to do his job and it sounds like he was decent about it. Sounds like that should be an amusing memory, more than anything, since he didn't embarrass you in front of others.

A great story to tell at parties, actually.

Many of us attract the interest of security guards, store detectives etc, it's the being alone thing, body language, lack of eye contact. I think I'm used to it now.

Much smaller level here, but I am constantly followed and/or approached by people in mall stores. One of the (many) reasons I hate shopping. Perhaps because I am quiet, avoid salespeople and I'm always looking around cautiously. I've never stolen a thing, and I find it rather insulting.

Mikomi, you should not be insulted because it is not personal. The detectives don't think, There's Mikomi, I know she's a crook. They think, There's a person acting differently. I'd better check it out. Sometimes I've been followed. It's no big deal. As above noted, detectives are hired to check out anomalies because statistically people acting differently are more likely to be doing something they shouldn't. And then there's us. They can't read our minds. When I'm followed, I just let them do their jobs and I keep my hands behind my back.

I have heard someone say in a store to go and watch me and watch what im doing then had someone stand there asking me if i need help and asking me questions.I just leave when that happens which meens they lose out.I was going to buy something in Chester but couldnt i noticed other people got left alone to look around.I always get watched maybe it is a body language thing and a lack of eye contact.

Yes, I've been stopped and searched under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 whilst passing through a train station.

I had got off the train, and was holding my ticket in preparation to pass through the barriers, and was feeling a little anxious (as I usually do in this situation because of the flow of people around me, and not knowing of which barrier to go through) and a police officer asked me to step aside, and she (and a colleague) proceeded to search my bag, wallet, pockets etc, and ask where I was going and why.

I asked why they had picked me, and was told it was random.

My reasoning is that they have to search a certain number of white people so they can justify also searching people that look like they might be Muslim, and can't be accused of racial profiling.

Alternatively, it may have been that I looked anxious and odd enough to have been percieved as a potential terrorist.

I do not belive it was entirely random, as it was humans making a decision to search people, and they would have had subconscious reasons for picking me even if they were not aware of them.

Robin

a few times actually mainly because they thought i was cutting school!! !! !! !! !! !! !! ! I hate looking young!! !! !! !! !! !! !! !!( I am 18 )

i get profiled in the stores, as a shoplifter even though i dont shoplift. i think its a combination of me looking unfriendly and a little scraggly. ive never been profiled by the poilice though, i dont think

Statistically speaking, certain behaviours are evidence.