International   

Asian, black groups in U.K. protest new police powers

LONDON: Britain’s Asian and black communities have protested over plans to give more powers to the police to stop and search people describing it as an attempt to reintroduce through the backdoor the controversial 1980s’ “sus” (suspicion) laws that allowed police to intercept anyone on mere suspicion.

The move, aimed at cutting down crime, has also been opposed by Liberal Democrats, civil rights groups and the Black Police Association. Already, minority groups face much greater police scrutiny than white Britons with black and Asian youths six times more likely to be stopped and searched than their white neighbours, according to figures.

More sweeping powers, it is feared, could lead to harassment and make ethnic groups even more suspicious of police than they already are.

The most controversial of the proposed “reforms” to be unveiled by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith next week is to do away with the requirement that police must have “reasonable suspicion” for stopping and searching a person.

Currently, they are required to fill up what the Tory leader David Cameron derisively described as a “foot-long form” giving reasons for stopping a person. The system was introduced under the 1984 police reforms following widespread complaints from ethnic groups that their members were unfairly targeted by police under powers to stop and search anyone on mere suspicion. It came to be known as the “sus” law.

Critics say the proposal to remove the safeguards will give the police “licence” to “harass” people on racial grounds.

“The reintroduction of such draconian powers will do untold damage to police and community relations and damage the fight against terrorism at a time when we most need the support of all communities,” said chief superintendent Ali Dizaei, who is also president of the National Black Police Association.

The Liberal Democratic Home Affairs spokesman Christ Huhne said his party would “resist” attempts to remove the existing safeguards.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Musharraf main obstacle, say ex-servicemen
"Handover reins"
Illegal custody: Pakistani lawyer
Cowardly act, says Colombo
Asian, black groups in U.K. protest new police powers
Verdict on Hindraf plea set for February 26
Asterix movie set for release
Launch of YouthSat satellite postponed to year-end

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu