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Terrorism powers watchdog warns police ahead of London Olympics Terrorism powers watchdog warns police ahead of London Olympics
(10 days later)
The government's terrorism powers watchdog has warned the police that they must have "reasonable suspicion" before making arrests in the runup to the London Olympics.The government's terrorism powers watchdog has warned the police that they must have "reasonable suspicion" before making arrests in the runup to the London Olympics.
David Anderson QC said he would be "watching like a hawk" to ensure terrorism arrests were not arbitrary and powers were not abused.David Anderson QC said he would be "watching like a hawk" to ensure terrorism arrests were not arbitrary and powers were not abused.
Anderson is the government's reviewer of terrorism legislation. His interview has been published in the Muslim News. Speaking before the arrests in the capital on Thursday, he said: "We have a lot of people in intelligence agencies manning their desks, having their leave cancelled and no doubt there will be a temptation for people to use that time as the Olympics become closer, to arrest people. There is a possibility that people will get worried and they will resort to power of arrest.Anderson is the government's reviewer of terrorism legislation. His interview has been published in the Muslim News. Speaking before the arrests in the capital on Thursday, he said: "We have a lot of people in intelligence agencies manning their desks, having their leave cancelled and no doubt there will be a temptation for people to use that time as the Olympics become closer, to arrest people. There is a possibility that people will get worried and they will resort to power of arrest.
"What I want to make very clear to them is that it not something they are entitled to do unless they have a reasonable suspicion. I am watching like a hawk and, so far, in my experience, that tendency has not yet materialised.""What I want to make very clear to them is that it not something they are entitled to do unless they have a reasonable suspicion. I am watching like a hawk and, so far, in my experience, that tendency has not yet materialised."
Some Muslims in Britain fear they may be targeted unfairly by counter-terrorism officials during the London Olympics, which will be based in east London.Some Muslims in Britain fear they may be targeted unfairly by counter-terrorism officials during the London Olympics, which will be based in east London.
In the interview with the newspaper Anderson attempted to provide reassurance that any abuse of powers would be stamped out and urged people to complain. He said: "If we were to see a large increase in arrests of Muslims during the Olympic period, even of only 50 people or a 100 people, something like that, I have no doubt there would need to be an inquiry into it, for exactly the same reason that you gave because one would need to be absolutely sure that proper, reasonable suspicion did exist.In the interview with the newspaper Anderson attempted to provide reassurance that any abuse of powers would be stamped out and urged people to complain. He said: "If we were to see a large increase in arrests of Muslims during the Olympic period, even of only 50 people or a 100 people, something like that, I have no doubt there would need to be an inquiry into it, for exactly the same reason that you gave because one would need to be absolutely sure that proper, reasonable suspicion did exist.
"If people are arrested unjustly or without any basis of suspicion, I very much hope that they would complain because it is only if they complain that I am able to come in and investigate and speak to the police and the home secretary about it.""If people are arrested unjustly or without any basis of suspicion, I very much hope that they would complain because it is only if they complain that I am able to come in and investigate and speak to the police and the home secretary about it."
The officer leading the policing of the Games also denied that any particular ethnic or religious group would be targeted.The officer leading the policing of the Games also denied that any particular ethnic or religious group would be targeted.
Chris Allison, Metropolitan police assistant commissioner with special responsibility for the Olympics, told the Muslim News: "We will provide what is appropriate policing for our environment. So we are not targeting any particular group. The people that we will target are the people we suspect to be terrorists or people we suspect to be criminals.Chris Allison, Metropolitan police assistant commissioner with special responsibility for the Olympics, told the Muslim News: "We will provide what is appropriate policing for our environment. So we are not targeting any particular group. The people that we will target are the people we suspect to be terrorists or people we suspect to be criminals.
"We are not going to go out to do a particular thing to a particular community. Our goal is to work with communities to try and ensure that the Games is safe and secure.""We are not going to go out to do a particular thing to a particular community. Our goal is to work with communities to try and ensure that the Games is safe and secure."
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