Response to scrapping of stop and search powers

Date Published: 09-07-2010

Stop and Search

Responding to the Home Secretary’s announcement that the police use of counterterrorism stop and search powers against individuals are to be scrapped with immediate effect, Law Society President Robert Heslett says:

"The Law Society welcomes the Home Secretary's decisive action in suspending the power to stop and search individuals where the police have no reasonable suspicion they are involved in terrorism under s 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000. 

“Police powers must be proportionate and respect fundamental human rights, otherwise they are open to abuse and can risk creating disrespect of the police among law-abiding citizens. 

"We further welcome the announcement that searches of vehicles may only occur where considered necessary, and not merely expediently. It is an important aspect of the rule of law that police powers should be no greater than necessary, and that rights to privacy must not be subject to arbitrary interference, as the European Court of Human Rights recognised when finding the law violated the Convention."

Ends

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