Stop and Search reintroduced in Glasgow

It's been announced today that police have been engaging in stop and search under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act today on Glasgow's underground and train stations.

I was surprised to first read about it on BBC Online this morning. The first time Section 44 powers were introduced in Scotland was after the Glasgow Airport attack for a limited period of 30 days. Given the circumstances, it wasn't widely questioned at the time, despite there being a less than overwhelming case for the measure.

During that month there were said to have been only a handful of stops carried out. I actually believe that the figure was a fair bit higher - I know of a number of young Muslims that were stopped and searched without the proper documentation being carried out.

One of the catalogued instances apparently concerned someone that was stopped and searched in order to reassure other passengers. Reassurance was one of the reasons cited by the British Transport Police today too.

The problem with this is it suggests there was some reason for other passengers to be alarmed by a particular individual - that there be some degree of suspicious behaviour on their part. What's unique about Section 44 powers though is that they require no suspicion in order to initiate a search.

With there being no good reason to search someone, searches instead appear to be carried out on the basis of colour of skin. Figures from London show a hugely disproportionate level of searches on Asians and blacks. Apparently indiscriminate powers are actually used very discriminately.

Only yesterday we learned that just 1 in 400 searches have led to an arrest, and even then, not on terror related offences. There has not been a single terror conviction from them, despite thousands and thousands of stops and searches having taken place.

In London, Section 44 powers have been in perpetual use for years now. It's led to a great deal of resentment at a time when a close relationship between communities and the police is essential. As well as being counterproductive, there must be much better uses of valuable police time. I strongly hope that this is not a sign of things to come.

Comments

[joe90]

http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.1804002.0.0.php>Anti-terror police in Glasgow for rail plan
The Herald
02 Nov 2007
Some forces, such as the Metropolitan Police, have used the anti-terror legislation to conduct stop and searches on anti-knife and drug operations.

So, this law and these powers aren't actually being used to fight terrorism, they're actually being used to fight the general public.

Defending democracy by destroying it - Orwell would appreciate the irony.

Now that we're being protected from terrorists, all we need is for someone to protect us from the British Police State - much like German freedoms needed protecting against the State under Hitler, who did what he did in the name of protecting Germany against foreign terrorists.

[Ted Harvey]

I can confirm that for at least two days at the end of last week there were extensive stop and searches going on. I'd certainly be surprised if it were as few as 'a handful'.

In the aftermath of the Glasgow Airport attack I was stopped at the station and searched. I have to say that the demeanour of the two cops was a humourless 'we want to search your bag OK?'. There did not appear to be any choice about it - but being a wee crapbag I duly surrendered the object of suspicion and my sandwiches and playwright's notes were duly passed back to me.