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| MP slams stop and search comments | MP slams stop and search comments |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| The Scottish justice secretary has come under fire from a UK minister over his comments about anti-terror searches at Scottish train stations. | The Scottish justice secretary has come under fire from a UK minister over his comments about anti-terror searches at Scottish train stations. |
| Tom Harris has demanded an "unreserved apology" from Kenny MacAskill after he accused British Transport Police (BTP) officers of harassment. | Tom Harris has demanded an "unreserved apology" from Kenny MacAskill after he accused British Transport Police (BTP) officers of harassment. |
| Glasgow MP Mr Harris said the criticism was "cynical and irresponsible". | Glasgow MP Mr Harris said the criticism was "cynical and irresponsible". |
| Mr MacAskill said he was yet to receive the MP's letter but stood by his original comments. | Mr MacAskill said he was yet to receive the MP's letter but stood by his original comments. |
| In a BBC interview on Sunday, the justice secretary accused the transport police of following a "diktat from London". | In a BBC interview on Sunday, the justice secretary accused the transport police of following a "diktat from London". |
| You might be interested to learn that to date, the BTP have received no complaints from citizens stopped during these routine operations Tom HarrisGlasgow south MP href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_7150000/newsid_7153300?redirect=7153361.stm&news=1&bbram=1&nbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1" onClick="javascript:newsi.utils.av.launch({el:this});return false;">Harris interview | |
| He claimed the officers were "harassing" people, particularly those from ethnic minorities, which he said "deeply, deeply" troubled him. | He claimed the officers were "harassing" people, particularly those from ethnic minorities, which he said "deeply, deeply" troubled him. |
| Mr Harris said Mr MacAskill's comments betrayed a "profound ignorance" of police operations. | Mr Harris said Mr MacAskill's comments betrayed a "profound ignorance" of police operations. |
| However, Mr MacAskill insisted it was "unacceptable" for the BTP to have carried out more than 14,000 searches in Scotland since the attack on Glasgow airport, when the total for the eight other Scottish forces was less than 200. | However, Mr MacAskill insisted it was "unacceptable" for the BTP to have carried out more than 14,000 searches in Scotland since the attack on Glasgow airport, when the total for the eight other Scottish forces was less than 200. |
| In a strongly worded letter to Mr MacAskill, Mr Harris, Labour MP for Glasgow South, said: "It is unacceptable and inappropriate for anyone in ministerial office to launch such an attack on police officers on the basis of hearsay. | In a strongly worded letter to Mr MacAskill, Mr Harris, Labour MP for Glasgow South, said: "It is unacceptable and inappropriate for anyone in ministerial office to launch such an attack on police officers on the basis of hearsay. |
| "You might be interested to learn that to date, the BTP have received no complaints from citizens stopped during these routine operations." | "You might be interested to learn that to date, the BTP have received no complaints from citizens stopped during these routine operations." |
| Kenny MacAskill said he stood by his comments | Kenny MacAskill said he stood by his comments |
| Mr Harris claimed it was wrong to compare the transport police activities with the actions of Scottish forces. | Mr Harris claimed it was wrong to compare the transport police activities with the actions of Scottish forces. |
| In his letter he said: "Terrorists have recently targeted transport infrastructure in this country (London Underground and Glasgow Airport) and it is therefore right that the BTP are vigilant and do everything practicable within its authority to disrupt and deter terrorist activity." | In his letter he said: "Terrorists have recently targeted transport infrastructure in this country (London Underground and Glasgow Airport) and it is therefore right that the BTP are vigilant and do everything practicable within its authority to disrupt and deter terrorist activity." |
| He pointed to media interviews with passengers praising stop-and-search activities alongside the total lack of complaints. | He pointed to media interviews with passengers praising stop-and-search activities alongside the total lack of complaints. |
| "I can only conclude that the vast majority of the travelling public in Scotland feel reassured rather than threatened," he said. | "I can only conclude that the vast majority of the travelling public in Scotland feel reassured rather than threatened," he said. |
| "Your attempts to invoke the prospect of discontent in community relations is both cynical and irresponsible." | "Your attempts to invoke the prospect of discontent in community relations is both cynical and irresponsible." |
| Mr Harris also accused the justice secretary of failing to meet transport police chiefs since coming to power, despite two requests from Assistant Chief Constable David McCall in July and August. | Mr Harris also accused the justice secretary of failing to meet transport police chiefs since coming to power, despite two requests from Assistant Chief Constable David McCall in July and August. |
| Community protection | Community protection |
| He added: "I trust you will now offer a full and unreserved apology for your comments to the officers of the BTP." | He added: "I trust you will now offer a full and unreserved apology for your comments to the officers of the BTP." |
| Mr MacAskill said his office was yet to receive the letter but stood by his original comments and again compared the number of searches carried out by transport police and Scottish forces. | Mr MacAskill said his office was yet to receive the letter but stood by his original comments and again compared the number of searches carried out by transport police and Scottish forces. |
| "Whilst we are in difficult times and it is absolutely vital that we protect our communities, we also have to protect civil liberties too," he added. | "Whilst we are in difficult times and it is absolutely vital that we protect our communities, we also have to protect civil liberties too," he added. |
| "Although they only make up 2% of our population, some 12% of these searches have involved members of ethnic minority communities. | "Although they only make up 2% of our population, some 12% of these searches have involved members of ethnic minority communities. |
| "I want answers from British Transport Police on why these figures are so high - particularly when our eight local constabularies have always been able to react to similar threats and challenges yet only used these special powers on a much smaller scale." | "I want answers from British Transport Police on why these figures are so high - particularly when our eight local constabularies have always been able to react to similar threats and challenges yet only used these special powers on a much smaller scale." |