USE OF SECTION 44 OF THE TERRORISM ACT (2000) TO SEARCH DEMONSTRATORS AT RAF FAIRFORD

Early day motion 1684, tabled 16 September 2004 by Lynne Jones (Labour). Signed by 22 members.

That this House notes that according to Gloucestershire police, during the two periods of authorisation covering 6th March to 27th April 2003, stop and search powers under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 were used on a total of 2,132 occasions in the vicinity of RAF Fairford whilst by contrast, during the same period there were only 56 searches pursuant to stop and search under section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994; also notes that in correspondence with the honourable Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak, the Home Office states that no one was subsequently arrested or prosecuted as a result of the 2,132 searches under the Terrorism Act; therefore questions why section 44 was used for stop and search purposes by police and concludes that the 2,132 searches of demonstrators under the Terrorism Act amounts to harassment of people demonstrating against the war on Iraq.

Signatures by party: Labour 12, Liberal Democrat 6, Plaid Cymru 3, Labour/Co-operative 1.