Terror stops rise after car bombs

By Dominic Casciani
BBC News

Borough stop and search stats

The Metropolitan Police have made more counter-terrorism stops and searches in the last five months than in the whole of the previous year, figures show.

Between April and August this year officers made 32,395 stops and searches or stops and account.

The Met's statistics show that just over a fifth of those stopped were classed as Asian - almost twice their proportion in the capital's population.

The number of stops has leapt since the attempted car bombings on 29 June.

The Metropolitan Police released the figures after pressure from the capital's police authority, which said that there was rising public concern over the use of the controversial counter-terrorism powers.

TOP SEARCH AREAS Belgravia: 2,835 Charing Cross: 2,698 Heathrow: 2,355 Tower Hamlets: 2,976 Wandsworth: 1,797 Source: Met Police

Under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000, police officers may stop and search people without needing to suspect them of a crime, providing it takes place in an area designated as a potential terrorist target.

Currently the whole of London is covered by the powers, meaning the stops can happen anywhere.

Figures previously released by the force show that in the year to April 2007 officers carried out 25,374 stops.

In the five months since then, they have already used stop powers 32,000 times as part of counter-terrorism policing.

Police chiefs have defended the powers, saying they are a key tool in disrupting potential terrorist planning.

Critics say the stops alienate Muslims and have so far played no practical role in preventing attacks.

Review of powers

The force reviewed its use of counter-terrorism stop and search powers after a critical report from the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) that warned of the capital's Muslims being alienated. Police chiefs have pledged to release monthly figures from next year.

Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman, the UK's top counter-terrorism officer, had earlier said he was not sure what purpose the stops were serving given that the tactic was unlikely to uncover a terrorist in the act - and that so many people were beng upset.

TERROR STOPS APRIL - AUGUST 2007 32,395 stops 1,830 stops of vehicles 18,420 aged 21-40 6,755 Asian 28,022 male Source: Met Police

However, releasing the new figures, Commander Rod Jarman said the borough-by-borough statistics showed how the power was being used to disrupt terrorist planning.

"Terrorists live, work and blend in to our communities," he said. "Terrorists can come from any background and live anywhere.

"They are as likely to be seen in quiet suburban roads as they are in inner-city areas.

"To complement our covert methods of fighting terrorism we have a more visible presence to deter and disrupt terrorist activity.

"In order to achieve this we need the support of the public. We ask for co-operation and patience while we carry out these important duties to help keep London safe."

Asian areas

Detailed calculations based on the figures show that in all but two boroughs Asians were more likely to be stopped than some other ethnicities.

But in the two areas of the capital with the largest Asian populations - Newham and Tower Hamlets - Asians were actually less likely to be stopped.

More than 28,000 of the total 32,395 stops and searches or stops and account were carried out on men, and 18,420 were carried out on people aged between 21 and 40.

John Roberts of the MPA said the publication of the figures was a victory for Londoners - and he accused some police chiefs of being "dinosaurs" unwilling to engage in a public debate over the controversial powers.

"We've been fighting for two years to have these published," said Mr Roberts.

"And now that we have been able to see them it raises new questions.

"In places where community cohesion is rock-bottom, such as Waltham Forest because of the Forest Gate terrorism raids, we now have figures which will help us have that debate over the use of these powers and whether officers are using them properly."