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| Have Your Say on Police 'Stop and Search' Powers
Wed 06 Oct 2004
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`Stop and Search rates have become one of the most visible indicators of racially biased policing practice in London.'
Metropolitan Police Authority Report
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In 2000 the 'Terrorism Act' was introduced. One of the new powers that it introduced was for police officers to be able to 'Stop and Search' individuals if they felt this may lead to the prevention of acts of terrorism. The relevant sections of the act are 44(1) vehicles and 44(2) pedestrians. These powers enable a police officer to stop and search individuals in 'authorised areas'. However such authorisation can only be given if the person giving it considers it expedient for the prevention of acts of terrorism.
Recently released statistics reveal that in 2001/2 and 2002/3 in London less than 1% of people who were stopped and searched under sections 44(1) and (2) were arrested. This has led to concerns that these powers are being abused.
This year's Home Office figures reveal a huge 302% increase in the number of South Asians who were stopped and searched by the police in 2002/3 and serve to confirm the impression that ethnic minorities are being targeted.
`These figures are quite devastating and confirm what we have been hearing anecdotally from the experiences of a worryingly large and ever-increasing number of young Muslim men', notes Iqbal Sacranie, Secretary General of the MCB.
The recent Metropolitan Police Authority report further acknowledges that: 'Stop and Search rates have become one of the most visible indicators of racially biased policing practice in London'.
Sacranie accurately captures the concerns prevalent amongst many Muslims: "Just as an entire generation of young black people were alienated through Stop and Search practice, we are deeply worried that the same could now be occurring again, this time to young Muslim men."
The Black and Ethnic Minority Cracking Crime Project are holding a public debate on this issue to which all are invited to come along and contribute. The event will feature contributors representing the following organisations:
Metropolitan Police Service Chief Inspector Gary Lewis
Metropolitan Police Authority representative to be confirmed
Institute of Race Relations Arun Kundnani
Islamic Human Rights Commission Arzu Merali
The barrister Charlotte Kilroy, from Matrix Chambers, will chair the event.
Debate proceedings will be written up and circulated to all attendees and to relevant agencies, including the Home Office, the Metropolitan Police Service, the Metropolitan Police Authority and to Lord Carlyle who annually reviews legislation on terrorism.
Please come along and contribute.
Event details:
Date: Wednesday 13th October 2004
Time: 6.30 - 8.30 pm
Venue: London Muslim Centre, 89-92 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1JE
To register for this event please contact:
David Dalgleish
BME Cracking Crime Project
020 87099777
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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| The following are comments: |
A lot of people know that Asians sell drugs! I mean come on - how else can a seventeen year old kid afford a new car or a merc? I know Aisans that pinch cash machines from banks! I respect Aisan people but some of the younger generation will not meet Allah.
Darren Grice
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In response to this issue, yes people are free to 'choose' their own path, religion etc. but all laws will exclude some people, because the world is not perfect. I unequivocally do not object to stop and search on any grounds because I am a decent law abiding citizen regardless of my chosen 'path'. I cannot understand why people who do not like the world to segregate them choose to do it themselves. Police have the power to stop people. They dont do it because of race, colour, whatever their 'path' is. They do it because some people are 'criminals' be they terrorists or potential rapists. They do not target people if you choose to 'think' that just because of a statistic it demonstrates 'racial' harrassment. You are just picking statistics to demonstrate a point. Where are the statistics of white people stopped, jehovahs witnesses being stopped, evangelists being stopped? chinese people, new zealanders. If you want to pick a statistic how about level of stops to potential crimes being committed or a statistic on the level of peace people can have knowing that at last decent people have nothing to fear in the streets, even if they are stopped by ordinary folk just doing their job in a rather rediculous world.
Alex
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Response to Niehem el Mesmari: Your comment demonstrates your ignorance and lack of understanding of the Muslim faith. You have no right telling people what they should or shouldn't be. People are free to choose their own paths, religions, allegiance, etc. This decision does not rest with you!
Ray
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I agree with stop and search. When I was a teenager I would get stopped on average once a night. The police new I was insured, taxed and licensed, but I did not complain. Maybe because that's because I'm English and had no voice? Your's really fed up with the race card.
DAVE
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Not all Muslims are terrorists but all terrorists are Muslim. The police stop Muslims to protect us all regardless of faith. If you want to live here you should be British first and Muslims second.
Niehem el Mesmari
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| Events are listed by the Muslim Council of Britain (the "MCB") at its discretion. The views of any organisation holding an event or any speakers at such an event are theirs alone and not those of the MCB. The MCB is not responsible for the content of external sites. The inclusion of any events on the MCB website does not amount to any endorsement by the MCB of such event or of any speakers at such event. |
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