Hain Warns On Stop And Question Risk
Updated: 12:46, Sunday May 27, 2007
Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain has sounded a note of warning on tough new anti-terror laws becoming "the domestic equivalent of Guantanamo Bay".
He also warned that the new powers, allowing police to stop and question anyone at random, could resurrect the old 'sus' laws, which were seen as racist and blamed for many of the inner city riots of the 1980s.
Under the proposals, officers would have the right to ask people about their identities and movements and failure to comply could lead to criminal charges or a hefty fine.
Tony Blair and Home Secretary John Reid want to push the legislation through before Mr Blair stands down as PM next month, it has been reported.
Mr Hain - a candidate for Labour's deputy leadership - said he wanted to see the details of the policy before making any judgment.
"We have got to be very careful that we do not create circumstances that are the domestic equivalent of Guantanamo Bay," he said.
"Guantanamo Bay, which was an international abuse of human rights, acted as a recruiting sergeant for dissidents and alienated Muslims and alienated many other people across the world."
He added: "We cannot have a reincarnation of the old `sus' laws under which mostly black people, ethnic minorities, were stopped on sight.
"That created a really bad atmosphere and an erosion of civil liberties.
"We have got to be very clear in balancing civil liberties and protecting people's security."
A Home Office spokeswoman said: "We are considering a range of measures for the Bill and 'stop and question' is one of them."
At present, officers may stop and search individuals on "reasonable grounds for suspicion" they have committed an offence but have no rights to ask for their identity and movements.
Stronger powers to remove vehicles and paperwork for examination are also believed to be part of the package.
Jane Winter, director of British-Irish Rights Watch, told the newspaper it represented "one of the most significant moves on civil liberties since the Second World War. A sledgehammer to crack a nut."
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