Comments on: Terrorism stops are not futile but should be used appropriately and sensibly

By: David Mery

David Mery — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:43:24 +0000

> there is now some monitoring of S44 stops.

This is a good news. Can you include a pointer to where the level of monitoring is described in more details and what findings have been published so far?

(Some of the August 2009 documents published on http://www.mpa.gov.uk/scrutinies/stop-search/ mention s44 but still give the impression it may be looked into every now and then as a one-off, i.e. not to the same level of scrutiny as the PACE stop and searches.)

By: Ron Broxted

Ron Broxted — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:22:04 +0000

My real first name is not Ron but it will do. I do not usually get a chance to chat to the aristocracy thus my etiquette is rusty.

By: Toby

Toby — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 10:11:05 +0000

Look, you can call me what you like – most people do. I am quite relaxed about it. I will call you Ron if you want to call me Toby.

By: Toby

Toby — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 10:09:23 +0000

Yes, there is now some monitoring of S44 stops.

By: Quietzapple

Quietzapple — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 07:09:02 +0000

Boxted: I think the late Noble Lord Hailsham required those who entered his presence – let alone addressed his noble Lordship on His blog – to “Neil!” The mouse is OK I find, but keyboard awkward and monitor cricks my neck.

http://www.snopes.com/embarrass/mistaken/kneel.asp

The police have received variable welcomes in various communities since the Bow St Runners were formed. One of the reasons is that some people expect to be caught.

By: David Mery

David Mery — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 23:18:14 +0000

> My experience is that most members of the public find it a reassurance that the power exists and is used and that this is true even if they are the subject of the stop, provided that the context is explained and the stop is conducted with a degree of respect.

Some members of the public were so concerned by the use of these powers that they even felt compelled to come to the MPA to ask questions about it. Read more at http://gizmonaut.net/bits/suspect.html#D20060525

> The principle now is that there should be local consultation and local buy-in to the policy on stop and search, proper monitoring and a more respectful attitude by officers.

Does that mean that the MPA is now monitoring TA2000 stop and searches? When I met John Roberts at the time, he explained that the MPA was indeed monitoring PACE stops and searches but not those conducted under the TA2000. Details at http://gizmonaut.net/bits/suspect.html#D20060622

By: Ron Broxted

Ron Broxted — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 23:10:18 +0000

My Lord (Toby, how does one address you?) Thank you for your reply. As a part of the MPA I expect you to be upbeat but in many parts of London and the U.K the police are at best tolerated and generally not accepted.

By: Toby

Toby — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:27:50 +0000

It was very unpopular in 1981 and 1985 and not just in Brixton! That of course was before the Metropolitan Police Authority took over responsibility for the Met in 2000 and started the process which led to a radically different approach to (non-terrorist) stops and searches and also pre-dates the Terrorism Act and the developments I have referred to.

The principle now is that there should be local consultation and local buy-in to the policy on stop and search, proper monitoring and a more respectful attitude by officers.

By: Ron Broxted

Ron Broxted — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:05:11 +0000

We have divergent experiences of the police then L.T.H. When I was in Brixton ’81 and ’85 stop and search was unpopular.

By: Quietzapple

Quietzapple — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:35:57 +0000

Most avowedly leftie blogs are futile and are not written sensibly and appropriately.

The metaphor involving bricks eludes me.