Honestly, the UK isn't police run. Things are going a bit too politically correct and whiney but our fundamental rights remain very strong. Traffic stops in the US give the cop a right to search your car. If you're speeding in the UK they don't search your stuff.
The police don't crash house parties because it's legal to drink in your own home after the age of 12.
You don't get arrested for possessing prescription drugs without a prescription and it's totally legal to import them for personal use. Do that in the US and you'll get a nasty letter from customs and your address put on a watch list. Hell, DEA officers will sometimes pose as a mailman until you sign for the parcel.. then they arrest you.
And if you want the best example, just look at % of your population in prison.
I'm not trying to bash.. I'm just saying that for some reason people think the UK is a police state when it really isn't. Every country has ridiculous moments where people are arrested for retarded stuff.
And like I said, I don't support Blair/Brown/Labour even 1%.. they're total shit and I hate the direction they've taken this country in.