MPA fully endorses Met's Stop Search Section 44 review

35/09
7 May 2009

MPA Members at the Strategic and Operational Policing committee on 7 May 2009 fully endorsed the Met’s tactical review of the use of stop and search under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act (2000).

Reshard Auladin, Chair of the committee, said:

“In 2007 the MPA inquiry ’Counter-Terrorism: The London debate’ found that anti-terrorism stop and search causes untold damage to the confidence certain communities have in the police, and Londoners seriously questioned its effectiveness in countering terrorism.

“The MPA inquiry therefore recommended that the Met urgently reviewed its use of Section 44 stop and search powers and, if its effectiveness in countering terrorism was not found to outweigh the damage it does to community relations, the Met should stop using it.

“The Authority is gratified that the Met’s tactical review has been concluded and is now recommending blanket use of this power should be stopped. We also note their consultation process “confirmed suggestions that the power is seen as controversial and has the potential to have a negative impact, particularly on minority communities.

“The use of Section 44 stop and search has always been controversial.  But the significant increase of 303% in one year, with a total of 101,751 stops by the Met for the year 2007/08 compared to 25,255 in 2006/07, has highlighted our grave concerns. We believe it is vital that the tactical review proposed by the Met also includes an effective monitoring and evaluation system.

“We will, however, continue to use stop and search under the very different regulations of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) as part of the Blunt 2 strategy which has been so successful in limiting knives being carried on our streets and consequently reducing youth violence and stabbings.

“’Counter- Terrorism: The London Debate’ found that there is profound support, across all communities, for the police’s counter-terrorist effort. If the Met is to tackle terrorism effectively, it must harness this support. We must work together with all our partners and communities if we are to detect terrorist activity, and find a way to fight terrorism more effectively, if we are not to alienate our diverse communities.“

Notes to Editors

1. The committee papers are available on the MPA website at: www.mpa.gov.uk/committees/sop/2009/090507/10/

2. ‘Counter-Terrorism: The London Debate’ report made 73 recommendations for the Metropolitan Police Service, MI5, the IPCC, Police Authorities, local, regional and national government, businesses, the media, and communities themselves to deliver change for the better in the way we tackle terrorism in London and the United Kingdom.

The report ‘Counter Terrorism: The London Debate’ can be found at: www.mpa.gov.uk/work/counterterrorism/

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