Police powers to use terror laws to stop and search people without grounds for suspicion are illegal, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled. The Strasbourg court has been hearing a case involving two people stopped near an arms fair in London in 2003.

It said that Kevin Gillan and Pennie Quinton’s right to respect for a private and family life was violated. Home Office Minister David Hanson MP said he was “disappointed” and would considering whether to appeal.
…
Speaking to BBC Radio 4′s The World At One, Ms Quinton said she hoped the ruling would lead to the government drawing up a “fairer body of legislation to protect us”.

“It’s not about saying that there’s no need for stop and search. What we’re really saying is people have a right to privacy and there needs to be a balance between police powers to ensure our safety but also our rights to a private life.”

… more at BBC News

Amnesty International today issued a press release stating:

The UK government must scrap abusive, discriminatory and unlawful powers that allow the police to stop and search without reasonable suspicion, Amnesty International said today after the European Court of Human Rights ruled that their use was illegal.

The European court has been hearing a case involving two protesters, Kevin Gillan and Pennie Quinton, who were stopped near a protest against an arms fair in London in 2003 by police acting under the 2000 Terrorism Act, which allows senior officers to authorise stop and search procedures without reasonable suspicion.

The Court ruled that their right to respect for a private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights had been violated.

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1. Liberal Conspiracy

   :: Police anti-terror 'stop and search' law condemned http://bit.ly/7JhaW7

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