Police to get new 'stop and question' powers

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By Matthew Moore and agencies
Last Updated: 1:24am BST 28/05/2007

British police could be given controversial powers to stop and question anyone in the UK under new anti-terror laws, it emerged today.


Civil liberties campaigners are worried the powers will be used disproportionally against ethnic minorities

The measure - so far used only in Northern Ireland - is part of a package of reforms being prepared by John Reid, the Home Secretary, as he prepares to step down next month.

Anyone who refuses to co-operate could be charged with obstructing the police and fined up to £5,000, according to the draft proposals.

At present, officers may stop and search individuals if there are "reasonable grounds for suspicion" that they have committed an offence, but have no rights to ask for their identity and movements.

The new powers - which would have no "reasonable suspicion" criteria - would help reduce the use of unpopular stop and search powers, according to Tony McNulty, the counter-terrorism minister.

"A less intrusive power of stop and question that could be used by the police in the first instance would be useful. The effect of this power should therefore be to reduce the number of times stop and search is used," he wrote to the Prime Minister, in a letter seen by the Sunday Times.

The proposals have already been met with scepticism from Mr Reid's frontbench colleagues. Peter Hain, the Northern Ireland minister and deputy leadership candidate, today said the powers could become "the domestic equivalent of Guantanamo Bay".

"Guantanamo Bay, which was an international abuse of human rights, acted as a recruiting sergeant for dissidents and alienated Muslims and alienated many other people across the world," he said.

"We have got to be very careful in the way we do it. Let's see what the detail is."

William Hague, the shadow foreign secretary, said the Conservatives would judge any detailed proposals on their merits but warned they would need public support in order to be effective.

The Home Office would not comment on suggestions the new laws were to be rushed through before Tony Blair steps down on June 27.

A spokeswoman said: "We are considering a range of measures for the Bill and 'stop and question' is one of them."

The proposals - which are part of a package including stronger powers to remove vehicles and paperwork for examination - have been criticised by civil rights campaigners.

Shami Chakrabarti, the director of Liberty, said: "The police should not have powers to run around questioning people willy-nilly, otherwise people feel hunted.

"This looks like political machismo, a legacy moment. Stopping and questioning anyone you like will backfire because people will be being criminalised."

Telegraph