This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6708141.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Increase in anti-terror targets | Increase in anti-terror targets |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Counter-terror police have recorded a 37% increase in "suspicious reconnaissance" of potential targets in the first four months of 2007. | Counter-terror police have recorded a 37% increase in "suspicious reconnaissance" of potential targets in the first four months of 2007. |
| Metropolitan Police commanders said the "undiminished" threat level justified the continued use of random stop-and-search powers. | Metropolitan Police commanders said the "undiminished" threat level justified the continued use of random stop-and-search powers. |
| But they accepted the reasons for almost 23,000 stops under anti-terror laws in London needed more explaining. | But they accepted the reasons for almost 23,000 stops under anti-terror laws in London needed more explaining. |
| Campaigners say anti-terrorism stop and searches "criminalise" communities. | Campaigners say anti-terrorism stop and searches "criminalise" communities. |
| However, the Home Office may expand the powers yet further. | However, the Home Office may expand the powers yet further. |
| ANTI-TERRORISM STOPS AND SEARCHES 22,672 from Sept 05 to Oct 0627 terrorism arrests242 other arrests16% of stops Asian52% White Source: MPA | ANTI-TERRORISM STOPS AND SEARCHES 22,672 from Sept 05 to Oct 0627 terrorism arrests242 other arrests16% of stops Asian52% White Source: MPA |
| In February London police came under fire from their watchdog, the Metropolitan Police Authority, in a major report into the effect of counter-terrorism policing on the capital. | In February London police came under fire from their watchdog, the Metropolitan Police Authority, in a major report into the effect of counter-terrorism policing on the capital. |
| The watchdog found that the force's use of special anti-terror stop and search powers were doing "untold harm" to communities in the capital, in particularly Muslims. | The watchdog found that the force's use of special anti-terror stop and search powers were doing "untold harm" to communities in the capital, in particularly Muslims. |
| Under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000, police officers may randomly stop someone without reasonable suspicion, providing the area has been designated a likely target for an attack. | Under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000, police officers may randomly stop someone without reasonable suspicion, providing the area has been designated a likely target for an attack. |
| The power is currently in force across the whole of London. | The power is currently in force across the whole of London. |
| But coming under fire for the use of the power, senior officers told the watchdog that the threat to the UK from terrorism remained "undiminished" - and that police had to use as broad a range of tools as possible. | But coming under fire for the use of the power, senior officers told the watchdog that the threat to the UK from terrorism remained "undiminished" - and that police had to use as broad a range of tools as possible. |
| Commander John McDowell, the Met's deputy national co-ordinator for counter-terrorism in the UK, said he agreed with analysis that the threat had worsened. | Commander John McDowell, the Met's deputy national co-ordinator for counter-terrorism in the UK, said he agreed with analysis that the threat had worsened. |
| "There have been public pronouncements that the threat has grown in volume and I would concur with that," he said. | "There have been public pronouncements that the threat has grown in volume and I would concur with that," he said. |
| "Since 2005 we have seen an increase in activity and an increase in the gradient of the graph." | "Since 2005 we have seen an increase in activity and an increase in the gradient of the graph." |
| Commander McDowell said that the first four months of 2007 had seen the police record a 37% increase in what it classed as suspicious reconnaissance - incidents that may be the first stage in planning an attack on the public. | Commander McDowell said that the first four months of 2007 had seen the police record a 37% increase in what it classed as suspicious reconnaissance - incidents that may be the first stage in planning an attack on the public. |
| He cautioned that this increase in reporting may be partly attributable to improved intelligence gathering as the security services expand counter-terrorism operations. | He cautioned that this increase in reporting may be partly attributable to improved intelligence gathering as the security services expand counter-terrorism operations. |
| Powers defended | Powers defended |
| Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman of the Met Police said the figure showed why officers were right to continue to use the Section 44 powers. | Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman of the Met Police said the figure showed why officers were right to continue to use the Section 44 powers. |
| WHERE SEC 44 STOPS HAPPEN 26% Transport hubs23% Outside Govt buildings, iconic sites, tourist attractions13% Financial centres23% Airports Source: Metropolitan Police | WHERE SEC 44 STOPS HAPPEN 26% Transport hubs23% Outside Govt buildings, iconic sites, tourist attractions13% Financial centres23% Airports Source: Metropolitan Police |
| While police could never be certain that a stop directly reduced the threat of a specific potential attack, he said it was important in a wider counter-terrorism context. | While police could never be certain that a stop directly reduced the threat of a specific potential attack, he said it was important in a wider counter-terrorism context. |
| "What we do know is the mode of behaviour around a terrorist," he said. "If they feel that they could be stopped and searched under these powers, they could be prevented [from attacking]. What I don't know is how many are truly prevented." | "What we do know is the mode of behaviour around a terrorist," he said. "If they feel that they could be stopped and searched under these powers, they could be prevented [from attacking]. What I don't know is how many are truly prevented." |
| New book | New book |
| Assistant Commissioner Hayman said that he accepted some of the criticisms of how the powers had been deployed - in particularly the lack of public information on who was being stopped. | Assistant Commissioner Hayman said that he accepted some of the criticisms of how the powers had been deployed - in particularly the lack of public information on who was being stopped. |
| He said the force would introduce a new rule book for officers involved in Section 44 stops - and the Met would also build a publicity campaign to explain to key communities why police believed the power was necessary. | He said the force would introduce a new rule book for officers involved in Section 44 stops - and the Met would also build a publicity campaign to explain to key communities why police believed the power was necessary. |
| Some officers were "unsure" of how the powers should be used, according to the Met's report into their use. | Some officers were "unsure" of how the powers should be used, according to the Met's report into their use. |
| The defence of the powers came days after the Home Office said it was considering introducing a wider "stop and question" law. | The defence of the powers came days after the Home Office said it was considering introducing a wider "stop and question" law. |
| The new power would give police an automatic right to stop and question anyone in the UK about suspected terrorism, building on the Section 44 power currently in force. | The new power would give police an automatic right to stop and question anyone in the UK about suspected terrorism, building on the Section 44 power currently in force. |
| The proposal immediately drew fire from civil liberties groups and Muslim campaigners who predicted it would criminalise entire communities. | The proposal immediately drew fire from civil liberties groups and Muslim campaigners who predicted it would criminalise entire communities. |