beetzart
27-05-2007, 05:00 PM
Just found this:
New anti-terror police powers considered
British police may be given tougher powers under a proposal for new anti-terror laws, Home Office officials said.
Officers would have the right to stop and question anyone in the UK - a measure that has only been used in Northern Ireland.
The changes are being prepared by Home Secretary John Reid as he prepares to resign from the cabinet next month.
Anyone who refuses to co-operate could be charged with obstructing the police and fined up to £5,000, according to the Sunday Times.
A Home Office spokeswoman said: "We are considering a range of measures for the Bill and 'stop and question' is one of them."
Presently, officers who have "reasonable grounds for suspicion" that someone has committed an offence can stop and search them but they have no rights to ask for their identity and movements.
The Home Office would not comment on suggestions the new laws were to be rushed through before Tony Blair steps down as Prime Minister on June 27.
Mr Reid has said he will quit the cabinet at the same time.
Removal of vehicles and paperwork for examination are also measures believed to be part of the new package.
Counter-terrorism minister Tony McNulty told Mr Blair last week the new stop powers would be "very useful UK wide."
"A less intrusive power of stop and question that could be used by the police in the first instance would be useful. The effect of this power should therefore be to reduce the number of times stop and search is used," he told him.
But some civil rights campaigners have criticised the move.
Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti said: "The police should not have powers to run around questioning people willy-nilly, otherwise people feel hunted.
"This looks like political machismo, a legacy moment. Stopping and questioning anyone you like will backfire because people will be being criminalised."
© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All ri
Just wait for the 'nothing to hide' brigade to roll on in right behind it.
New anti-terror police powers considered
British police may be given tougher powers under a proposal for new anti-terror laws, Home Office officials said.
Officers would have the right to stop and question anyone in the UK - a measure that has only been used in Northern Ireland.
The changes are being prepared by Home Secretary John Reid as he prepares to resign from the cabinet next month.
Anyone who refuses to co-operate could be charged with obstructing the police and fined up to £5,000, according to the Sunday Times.
A Home Office spokeswoman said: "We are considering a range of measures for the Bill and 'stop and question' is one of them."
Presently, officers who have "reasonable grounds for suspicion" that someone has committed an offence can stop and search them but they have no rights to ask for their identity and movements.
The Home Office would not comment on suggestions the new laws were to be rushed through before Tony Blair steps down as Prime Minister on June 27.
Mr Reid has said he will quit the cabinet at the same time.
Removal of vehicles and paperwork for examination are also measures believed to be part of the new package.
Counter-terrorism minister Tony McNulty told Mr Blair last week the new stop powers would be "very useful UK wide."
"A less intrusive power of stop and question that could be used by the police in the first instance would be useful. The effect of this power should therefore be to reduce the number of times stop and search is used," he told him.
But some civil rights campaigners have criticised the move.
Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti said: "The police should not have powers to run around questioning people willy-nilly, otherwise people feel hunted.
"This looks like political machismo, a legacy moment. Stopping and questioning anyone you like will backfire because people will be being criminalised."
© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All ri
Just wait for the 'nothing to hide' brigade to roll on in right behind it.