New Counter-Terrorism '‘stop and question’ powers are not needed: Len Duvall, MPA chair

25/07
29 May 2007

The introduction of new ‘stop and question’ counter-terrorism powers would set back community-police relations 30 years, Len Duvall, chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority, said today.

Responding to government suggestions that it may introduce the new police power in a forthcoming counter-terrorism bill, Mr Duvall said:

“Our own detailed study of police counter-terrorism activity in London concluded that people were supportive of police counter-terrorism efforts in their name. What they objected to strongly, however, was any indiscriminate or disproportionate use of powers.

“If we want to set back community-police relations and return to the bad old days of the ‘sus’ laws of the ‘70s and ‘80s, when levels of mistrust between police and public were at record highs and had drastic consequences, then the introduction of a new blank cheque power to stop and question anyone, anywhere, anytime without reasonable grounds for suspicion, is a very quick way of achieving this.

“Neither the Metropolitan Police Authority nor the Metropolitan Police Service have called for this power because we understand the serious damage it could cause to the police’s relationship with London’s communities.

“ We have all worked hard to build mutual trust, cooperation, respect and understanding between police and the people they serve. Do we really want to jeopardise this by introducing powers that set us back 30 years?

“Section 44 stop and search powers already give police the power to stop someone without having reasonable grounds, just by virtue of the fact they are in a specified geographical area at a time when police have satisfied the Home Secretary that there is a heightened risk.

“I urge the government to reconsider this strategy and consult widely before taking any further step towards the introduction of a power that may have damaging consequences for community-police relations and risk stirring up resentment against the police who are already operating in difficult and dangerous circumstances.”

A review of police use of counter-terrorism stop and search powers under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act, and its value in preventing terrorist atrocities, will be presented in public by the MPS to the MPA this Thursday. This review was an urgent requirement of the MPA’s recent report ‘Counter-Terrorism: The London Debate’, published following a year-long investigation into the causes and effects of terrorism amongst London’s communities. The public made clear to the Authority that the use of Section 44 powers to stop and search Londoners without ‘reasonable grounds’ was undermining community trust in, and understanding of, police counter-terrorist activity.

Mr Duvall added:

“While the MPA recognises the need to use all available tools to prevent terrorism, we are determined these tools should be as transparent and publicly accountable as possible.”

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