From a UK law enforcement perspective - completely illegal if it were over here. Not only can you only keep property being used as evidence - which your mobile phone could be - but a risk assessment is conducted at the end of detention to make sure the detainee can get home safe, which would definitely include making sure they have cash/medication/etc, and making sure they're not suicidal.
But yeah, coming from the UK, this whole thing strikes me as a little mad. But I suspect the author is omitting some details for dramatic effect. It would very much surprise me if it wasn't made very clear what she was being arrested for, and the officer explained her rights etc. I'm also sceptical about the "u turns to show off" - in the UK, all police vehicles have incident recorders, so showing off for shits and giggles is dangerous and likely to get you fired. It#s I'd be surprised if there weren't similar devices. It's also made exceedingly clear you don't post pictures on duty in social media unless it's approved etc.
Nonetheless, sounds all very horrible, and it shouldn't be. I like to think we do it a lot better.
But yeah, coming from the UK, this whole thing strikes me as a little mad. But I suspect the author is omitting some details for dramatic effect. It would very much surprise me if it wasn't made very clear what she was being arrested for, and the officer explained her rights etc. I'm also sceptical about the "u turns to show off" - in the UK, all police vehicles have incident recorders, so showing off for shits and giggles is dangerous and likely to get you fired. It#s I'd be surprised if there weren't similar devices. It's also made exceedingly clear you don't post pictures on duty in social media unless it's approved etc.
Nonetheless, sounds all very horrible, and it shouldn't be. I like to think we do it a lot better.