Hidden camera reveals how police swindle motorists

The person who filmed these images followed on-duty police officers through the streets of Tehran with a hidden camera. The result is an unflattering portrait of the Iranian police: bribery, blackmail, and unwarranted destruction of vehicles are routine…

This 12-minute long film was shot in several locations across the Iranian capital. Its objective, according to the Web user who filmed it and posted it online (and who goes by the name of The Iran Reporter) is to compile several examples of scenes that prove of the level of corruption within the Iranian police.

Contacted by FRANCE 24, The Iran Reporter refused to give any details about how he was able to film these scenes. The fact that he approached so many police officers leads us to assume that he himself is a law enforcement officer, or that he was disguised as one. On several occasions in the video, The Iran Reporter gives the names of police officers or “bassidjis” (religious police) who speak during the film.

In 2010, Iran was ranked 144th (out of 180) in the list of the most corrupt countries in the world, according to the organization Transparency International.

Video posted on YouTube by The Iran Reporter. Subtitles by FRANCE 24. The video is a combination of several scenes that show policemen apparently having irregular dealings with car drivers.

At 1 min 42 sec, police threaten to confiscate the car of a young man because he spoke to a girl in another car.

At 3 min 55 sec, a driver complains that his papers have been 'lost' by police. A policeman offers to return his 'lost' papers in exchange for a fee.

Starting at 6 min 55 sec, the scenes take place in a parking lot full of confiscated cars. Police officers can be seen trying to break into a car in the lot, and a driver complains that the cars are returned in bad condition.

"This new habit of getting in the car to go and meet people has enraged the regime."

The Iran Reporter only agreed to talk to us via YouTube’s messaging service.

I filmed all these images in Tehran: Shariaty Street, Niavaran Street, Motahari Street, Tajrish Square and Kaj Square. But what I saw here happens in every street, in every city, in Iran. I refuse to give any information about how I succeeded in filming this [6 minutes 43 seconds into the video some police officers ask him 'Who are you?' and several moments later they go away. This indicates, according to one of our Observers, that the person filming was able to show signs of his affiliation to the police or the intelligence services, without which he would undoubtedly have been arrested.] The fact that I can’t give any details about my identity is because the Iranian cyber-police have arrested several people I know, even though they used online pseudonyms.  

What this video shows is that the police in Iran are corrupt and often ask for bribes. I tried to show that they confiscate cars on the slightest pretext, a common practice in Iran.

There are no places where people can go out in Iran (bars, clubs etc) so young people get in their cars and meet up with each other in traffic jams. Here they have a chance to talk to the people in the other cars. This new trend has enraged the religious fanatics within the regime. The police thus find any pretext for stopping young people, such as wearing 'inappropriate' clothes. Sometimes they even single people out because of their shoes or handbags.”