When I walked past Davids road this morning there was a large light set up with police standing around.

On my way home they were still there and seemed to be stopping all the cars.

Any ideas about what is happening?

Hi there - think it's part of a Census in progress - they were on Devonshire Road on Friday

Thanks for that, must have missed them on friday.

Seems very intrusive with that huge light outside houses.

Am intrigued - what sort of "census" do you think they might have been conducting?

I didn't think the Met were allowed to just set up a roadblock and stop cars unless they had a specific reason...

There's a census point at the end of Wood Vale too as it goes onto Lordship Lane that's appeared this morning.

There was one car pulling off as I walked past, one being asked something and one being pulled over. Strangely all the cars were silver despite other colours driving past.

After a Google for police census and cars, came across this article from last year in the Times. Perhaps it's South London's turn this year

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment...971799.ece

It suggests that it's a TFL survey with the police only there so that cars actually pull over.

Right, yup it was a census, which is manned by civi/government staff, but a policeman is present.
The use of these is to briefly ask people about their journey, choice of route, importance of using the car etc.
Usually done when they are considering a big project.

At a census you are legally obliged to stop, and would be commiting an offence to refuse to do so.
David, its not a road block, its a selected number of vehicles that are stopped. Sometimes only specific vehicle types are stopped..

The wife was stopped last night and yes we have a silver car. You are obliged to stop but are able to decline to be interviewed if you want but as it is just about the journey there doesnt seem a point.

Police on duty but were very bored but the nice people at the Thai Orchard had been giving them free food and drink during the day.

They were also on Devonshire Road- were they on Davids Road as well then? Hopefully some of the one way offenders were caught in the act...but then most of them seem to be police cars anyway.

Thanks for the info - I have to admit that I hadn't realised the police have the power to stop you in the car for no reason (though it appears that they do). My use of "roadblock" didn't mean to imply anything - I'm just surprised at what sounds like a lot of resources being poured into this sort of thing.

I'd be interested to see if/how the results are digested and published (and what the answers are).