http://www.hendontimes.co.uk/misc/print.php?artid=1718997
Fighting terrorism in Barnet's streets Barnet police stopped more than 1,000 people in the borough as part of counter-terrorism operations in the period between April and August, it was revealed this week. Officers asked to stop and search 951 people, questioned a further 63, and checked 21 unattended vehicles. Superintendent Neil Seabridge said he understood that police stops would cause inconvenience, but added that protecting residents was the priority. The 1,035 searches contributed to the capital-wide figure of more than 32,300, which was higher than the total for the previous 12 months combined. The five-month period saw failed car bombing attacks in central London and Glasgow in June, and the raising of Britain's terrorism threat level to 'critical'. Legislation under the Terrorism Act allows officers to search people even if they do not suspect them of having committed a crime, providing the search is in an area designated as a potential terrorist target. The legislation is being enforced across London as the entire city is deemed a potential target. In Barnet, more than half of those stopped were aged between 21 and 40, and around 80 per cent were men. The ethnic split reflected a similar trend across the capital - around 65 per cent of people were white, 18 per cent Asian, and ten per cent black. Supt Seabridge said: "Our activity is aimed to disrupt and deter terrorist activity and to provide a visible reassurance to all the communities of Barnet. We understand that being stopped by police may cause inconvenience but it is our primary function to protect the public and to make Barnet safer. "The patience and co-operation of the public will greatly assist this. We ask residents and visitors to Barnet to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to our confidential anti-terrorist hotline on 0800 789321." Commander Rod Jarman, who leads the Met's stop and search operation, said: "Terrorists live, work and blend in to our communities. They need information, accommodation, transport, communications, material and storage. Terrorists can come from any background and live anywhere. They are as likely to be seen in quiet suburban roads as they are in inner-city areas." Councillor Brian Coleman, Barnet's cabinet member for community safety, said: "I'd rather 10,000 people were stopped than have any of my constituents blown up by a terrorist. I entirely trust the police on this matter. But James Welch, legal director of human rights organisation Liberty, believes the searches undermine the community's trust and are counter-productive in the fight against terrorism. He said: "These figures show that ethnic minorities are disproportionately targeted in relation to their total population in London when these powers, which allow officers to search people without grounds for suspicion, become commonplace. The Home Office advises that stop and search procedures are most likely to occur in areas around football grounds, in neighbourhoods experiencing an upsurge in crime or disorder and at public transport stations. Police searched more people in Tower Hamlets than any other borough, with almost 3,000 stops. There were also a significant number of searches recorded at transport hubs such as Heathrow Airport and Charing Cross railway station. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? 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