Fears over 'stop and quiz' plans

Last Modified: 27 May 2007
By: Andy Davies

Proposals to widen police "stop and search" powers are criticised by the Northern Ireland Secretary.

We risk creating "the domestic equivalent of Guantanamo Bay". That was Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain's stark warning after proposals to allow police to stop and question anyone in the UK were leaked to the media.

But the minister in charge of policing says there will be plenty of time for consultation before any new laws come into affect.

Last summer, following an alleged UK-based plot to bomb a number of aircraft, Tony Blair instigated a review of counter-terorrism powers.

Police powers to 'stop and question' do exist in the UK - but only in Northern Ireland. The irony is that they are about to be abandoned there

The recommendations were due to be published by the Home Office on Thursday. One of them - hugely controversial - was leaked in the Sunday Times today.

It is a recommendation to widen police powers on the issue of stop and search. Currently they can only stop and search - they have no right to ask for a person's identity or movements

Police powers to "stop and question" do exist in the UK - but only in Northern Ireland.

The irony is that they are just about to be abandoned there, dispatched in part by a cabinet minister, Peter Hain, who showed little enthusiasm for the idea of measures when interviewed this morning.

However, the political pressure to beef up this country's domestic security powers is being spearheaded by the outgoing prime minister and home secretary.

The Home Office has said a consultation exercise on the recommendations, which apply only to police powers under the terrorism act 2000, will run until a bill is presented to parliament in the autumn.