Proposed new anti-terror laws could give police greater powers to stop and question anyone in the UK. The proposal, allowing police to ask people about their identity and movement, is among measures being considered by Home Secretary John Reid. The new legislation would be similar to that already used in Northern Ireland. Police are still likely to need a “reasonable suspicion” a crime may be committed. Anyone refusing to co-operate could be fined up to £5,000.
At present, under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000, officers already have the power to stop and search people or vehicles in an area seen as being at risk from terrorism even if they are not suspected of any breach of the law. A Home Office spokeswoman said that the new proposals would give officers an automatic right to stop and question anyone in the UK about suspected terrorism.
Well isn’t that lovely? Somewhere along the line, if this is implemented in Britain, can’t you see an American politician pushing something like this? After all, highway checkpoints and no-knock warrants have held up in court, so it’s hard to see a sudden defense of the Fourth Amendment popping up. Are you prepared to show your papers whenever you travel? And if you think racial profiling and instances of police abuse are bad now, what do you think they’d be like when law enforcement can do anything with impunity?
