LONDON TERRORISM STOP & SEARCHES ALMOST QUADRUPLE IN THE LAST YEAR

12.36.30pm GMT Fri 12th Dec 2003

New figures released by the Home Office that show that Stop and Searches under the Terrorism Act 2000 in London have increased four fold in the last year, with just 1% of people being arrested.

The new figures reveal that for the latest period available of 2002/03, 28,085 stop and searches were carried out by the City of London and Met Police under Section 44 (1) and (2) of the Terrorism Act 2000 compared to 7,566 in 2001/02.

Liberal Democrat London Mayoral candidate Simon Hughes MP said:-

"Anti-terrorism powers were meant to be exceptional powers, used occasionally and only when the circumstances demanded it. The fact that so many people have been stopped, and so few arrested, suggests that the powers are being used in London as a routine policing technique.

"We need to know that these special powers are being used as a proportionate response to the threat from terrorism."

"People understand and accept the need for special powers at times of heightened threat. But we cannot have a situation where exceptional powers become the norm in London."

ENDS

Notes to editor

Figures taken from:-

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hosb1703.pdf (page 26) and

Hansard Parliamentary answer to Simon Hughes 4 Nov 2003 : Column 575W