Camden New Journal - Letters: Stop and search

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Camden New Journal - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published:9 August 2007

Stop and search for what?

• ACCORDING to the Camden police Chief Supt, we must expect to be stopped and searched in an anti-terrorism drive.
However, “It is important that people continue with their normal routine”, he added (CNJ, August 2).
Apparently the Camden plan is part of a wider policy of the London Met Police. In July nearly 11,000 people were stopped and searched – five times the previous monthly average (Reuters, August 6).
Under so-called anti-terrorism powers police can require anyone to be searched without any grounds to suspect that the particular person has involvement in terrorism.
Refusal to co-operate can mean prosecution under anti-terror laws.
With this arbitrary threat over our heads, how can we continue as normal?
When Hazel Blears was Home Office minister, she admitted that Muslims would be disproportionately targeted for stop-and-search.
The use of similar powers in Northern Ireland gave Roman Catholic youth a hostile attitude to the police.
How will individuals be targeted for stop-and-search in Camden? What will be the effect on community relations?
Will this anti-terror campaign encourage people to report any suspicions to the police – or discourage them?
According to the police there is ‘no specific intelligence’ to suggest an attack on London. So why increase stop-and-search in Camden, and why now? What justifies this use of police time and resources? Why should we accept these arbitrary intrusions into our privacy and delays to our journeys?
LES LEVIDOW
Campaign Against Criminalising
Communities, NW5
www.campacc.org.uk

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, Camden New Journal, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@camdennewjournal.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Tuesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld. Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number. Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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