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# A Europe of police states?
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/a-europe-of-police-states/
- Published: 2008-12-15T18:12:49.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T22:42:29.000Z
- Author: Tom Griffin
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 18:49

**Tom Griffin (London,** [**OK**](https://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom)**)**: Politics.co.uk asked last week whether Britain is a police state. Editor [Ian Dunt's thoughtful analysis](http://www.politics.co.uk/news/legal-and-constitutional/legal-and-constitutional/analysis-is-britain-turning-into-police-state--$1254031.htm?ref=opendemocracy.net) concludes that we are not there yet, but many of [the site's readers ](http://www.politics.co.uk/news/opinion-former-index/legal-and-constitutional/most-britons-think-uk-turning-into-police-state-$1254029.htm?ref=opendemocracy.net)apparently disagree.

At least we are not alone in Europe. One correspondent of [Newropeans](http://www.newropeans-magazine.org/content/view/8761/84?ref=opendemocracy.net) magazine is asking the same question about France after this experience:

*I’m teaching a lesson when all of a sudden, without warning, four determined policemen irrupt in my classroom, accompanied by a sniffer dog-handler and his animal. No one says hello, no one introduces himself. With no further preamble, the dog is sent throughout the classroom. The pupils are utterly startled. I question the intruders, asking how such a procedure is possible in this place, no one replies. As I insist, I’m being told that I’d rather shut up.*