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Fruitless terror raids cost £83k Fruitless terror raids cost £83k
(about 23 hours later)
Anti-terror raids on five Stoke-on-Trent homes cost £83,000 and yielded no prosecutions, police have revealed.Anti-terror raids on five Stoke-on-Trent homes cost £83,000 and yielded no prosecutions, police have revealed.
On 1 July, 2008, three houses in Cobridge, one in Smallthorne and another in Tunstall were raided following "community" concerns.On 1 July, 2008, three houses in Cobridge, one in Smallthorne and another in Tunstall were raided following "community" concerns.
Staffordshire Police say they responded to fears of "violent and extremist views, and... radicalising vulnerable members of the community".Staffordshire Police say they responded to fears of "violent and extremist views, and... radicalising vulnerable members of the community".
Computer equipment and documents were taken, but no arrests were made.Computer equipment and documents were taken, but no arrests were made.
Ch Supt Bernie O'Reilly said the raids were made under the Terrorism Act after files were handed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).Ch Supt Bernie O'Reilly said the raids were made under the Terrorism Act after files were handed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
He said when the "community" raise terror concerns, the police "have got a job to act."He said when the "community" raise terror concerns, the police "have got a job to act."
'No apparent reason''No apparent reason'
Two men whose homes were raided said shortly afterwards they felt "humiliated" by the raids.Two men whose homes were raided said shortly afterwards they felt "humiliated" by the raids.
They ran a stall in Stoke-on-Trent which sells Islamic literature, CDs and DVDs.They ran a stall in Stoke-on-Trent which sells Islamic literature, CDs and DVDs.
One man, Abu Bosher, said at the time: "To raid our houses for no apparent reason seems unfair.One man, Abu Bosher, said at the time: "To raid our houses for no apparent reason seems unfair.
"We gave police our leaflets, we gave them our contact details, they know us by our first names. It's not like we are hiding anything.""We gave police our leaflets, we gave them our contact details, they know us by our first names. It's not like we are hiding anything."
And another man whose home was raided, Abu Saif, said: "I was born and bred in Stoke-on-Trent. All the community know me. They all know I am not a terrorist."And another man whose home was raided, Abu Saif, said: "I was born and bred in Stoke-on-Trent. All the community know me. They all know I am not a terrorist."
But Ch Supt O'Reilly defended his forces actions, saying: "These same people may need to reflect on whatever it was at the time that made the community contact us with their concerns about them".But Ch Supt O'Reilly defended his forces actions, saying: "These same people may need to reflect on whatever it was at the time that made the community contact us with their concerns about them".
Some 33,000 computer files were examined over an 18-month period. Some 330,000 computer files were examined over an 18-month period.
But the CPS ruled there was not enough evidence for a realistic chance of prosecution.But the CPS ruled there was not enough evidence for a realistic chance of prosecution.