Extract from memorandum submitted by the
Corporation of London
1. The City of London Police regard the
powers under Terrorism Legislation to stop and search members
of the public, as a valuable tool in deterring, disrupting and
detecting terrorist criminal activity. Stop and search powers
under the Terrorism Act form an integral part within the Force's
Counter Terrorism training programme. All officers joining the
Force receive this training.
2. Between April 2003 and March 2004 the
Force used the powers to stop 8,813 members of the public, 68.5%
of whom were subject to a search. As a result, 183 members of
the public were arrested, one of which was for suspected terrorist
offences.
3. In the same period, members of the public
made six complaints in direct relation to police use of powers
under Terrorism Legislation. All six complaints fell in the category
of Oppressive Conduct and the results of these were:
— four informally resolved
— one became subject to a Police Complaints
Authority Dispensation Order (no further action to be taken as
the complainant could not be traced)
— one not pursued by the complainant,
once the reasons for the stop had been fully explained to them
4. Issues of human rights, cultural diversity,
and integrity are considered closely when using these powers.
The London Metropolitan University has recently completed an independent
study of the City's application of powers to stop and search.
This included direct observation of officers' behaviour by independent
researchers. The research has shown that there is no evidence
of disproportionality in the actions of officers.
5. Positive feedback on information from
the Force's use of the Act is regularly received from the Intelligence
Services. Independent evidence, gathered by MORI from workers,
residents, businesses and chief executives in the City, has disclosed
that there are very high levels of satisfaction in the policing
of the City, concluded that levels of satisfaction in the policing
of the City are at an unprecedented level.
6. The Force is committed to full accountability
in exercising powers under the Act. All strategy, tactics and
deployments are intelligence-led and documented. These decisions
are communicated to all operational officers and officers are
tasked to patrol specified locations at specific times of the
day. All documentation completed when exercising powers under
the Act is scrutinised to ensure the powers have been used in
line with the agreed strategy and tactics. The Force diversity
forum reviews data in relation to stop and search to ensure that
no communities or individuals have been unfairly targeted and
the Force reports monthly to the Home Office in relation to the
use of these powers.
***
10. The experience of the City of London
Police is therefore one of extensive, but careful use of the legislation
in a balanced, proportionate and accountable way. The City is
home to many potential terrorist targets, and counter terrorism
legislation is important to reassure those who live and work in
the City, and to secure an important UK strategic asset, and the
international financial community as a whole.
June 2004
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