18.Memorandum submitted by the Independent
Police Complaints Commission
The IPCC recognise that the police must give
the highest priority to protecting the public from the threat
of terrorism, but there is no doubt that the use of the exceptional
powers the police have been given under the terrorism act has
undermined confidence in the police amongst the Muslim community.
We have held a number of meetings with representatives
within the Muslim Community at national and local levels to open
up channels of communication and to listen to any concerns that
the community has about policing.
The media has reported a number of allegations
of misconduct by police which have resulted from some of these
arrests. The IPCC already has a role in a number of these cases.
As a result of these concerns the IPCC has very
recently asked the Metropolitan Police to refer to the IPCC any
complaints or conduct matters that arise from arrests under the
Terrorism Act. The IPCC would like to implement this within all
forces in England and Wales and would liaise with ACPO to implement
this measure.
This serves two purposes
— Helps to reassure the public (specific
communities) that there is independent scrutiny of the police.
We could decide to investigate the complaint ourselves.
— IPCC involvement should reassure
the community about working with the police against terrorism.
While we would be specifically monitoring complaints
or conduct matters that arise from arrests under the Terrorism
Act we recognise that there is a broader issue with regard to
the perceived misuse of stop and search powers and its tenuous
connection to countering terrorism.
23 September 2004
| 
