The findings of the Metropolitan Police Authority that 58 children were stopped in London last year using terrorism laws must prompt the government to review the unjustifiable use of legislation introduced to fight the “threat of terrorism” in matters related to criminal disorder.
All the children stopped by the Met police using anti-terrorism laws were later released by the police and found not to be involved in terrorism.
From the findings that should enrage Londoners, Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 was used to stop 10 girls under the age of nine and 48 boys.
The London Daily News previously reported in a report 1 May 2009 that the Met Police was misusing terrorism laws which under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000; which permits police to stop and search people in areas “deemed by senior officers to be a risk of terrorism. A constable does not need to have a reasonable suspicion.”
The Anti-Terrorism Act, or Section 44, gives the police powers in specific areas, in this case London, to stop and search people without the reasonable need to suspect them of being involved in terrorism.
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