- Anti-terror laws used to stop girls under 9 years old in London
Editorial
The findings of the Metropolitan Police Authority that 58 children were stopped in London last year using terrorism laws must prompt the government to review the unjustifiable use of legislation introduced to fight the "threat of terrorism" in matters related to criminal disorder.
All the children stopped by the Met police using anti-terrorism laws were later released by the police and found not to be involved in terrorism.
From the findings that should enrage Londoners, Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 was used to stop 10 girls under the age of nine and 48 boys.
The London Daily News previously reported in a report 1 May 2009 that the Met Police was misusing terrorism laws which under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000; which permits police to stop and search people in areas "deemed by senior officers to be a risk of terrorism. A constable does not need to have a reasonable suspicion."
The Anti-Terrorism Act, or Section 44, gives the police powers in specific areas, in this case London, to stop and search people without the reasonable need to suspect them of being involved in terrorism.
In 2004, a report from the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) said the power "trampled on the basic human rights of too many Londoners".
Officers are advised to use the power sparingly but the laws are being enforced in situations that never warranted them like demonstrations and the anti-Heathrow expansion protests where people were stopped under section 44.
In total 175,000 searches were conducted by the Met Police using section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
The issue here that needs to be looked at by the upper echelons of the Met that are dealing with anti-terrorism, is the value to investigative work and prevention of future terrorist acts in stopping nine year old boys and girls in the capital under section 44? The London Daily News argues that there is no value in stopping a nine year child under terrorism laws.
There has to be a new way in dealing with terrorism in the capital, indeed the Met is already moving experienced detectives from homicide squads to SO15 the specialist anti-terrorism branch of the Met to help investigate and prevent future atrocities using experienced Met officers. Sir Paul Stephenson needs to draw a line under the draconian policing methods like section 44 that have only helped to alienate the community and the Met, in a time when the public have to work closely with the police to help make London a safer place for everyone.
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