Protesting stop-and-search

Johnny Tao; Mar 17, 2009

Comedian Mark Thomas, appeared outside New Scotland Yard today, campaigning against the use of stop-and-search in the UK.

At the vistor's entrance of New Scotland Yard, Mark, who is well known for his Channel 4 show, The Mark Thomas Comedy Product, was holding-up placards saying, “Most UK police Are Bipeds”.

“Did you know the police face few sanctions even if their conduct, such as searching you for 'over-confidence', is deemed unlawful?” says the political comic and activist.

Thomas admits that to a certain extent, stop-and-search is a useful policing tool in the fight against crime and the Metropolitan police is well-meaning.

However, he believes, “It is in the cases where they get it wrong that attitudes towards police are sharpened and the rights we feel we have as citizens, practically defined.”

Mark says statistics show that in 2008, more than 360,000 people were stopped unter the anti-terrorism act, while none of them were found to have any terrorist material or links.

According to BBC, people from Brixton and south London do think it will “Antagonise young black and Asian kids. It will only make them resent the police more”.

Carry the card!

Mark Thomas“Although protesters are often targeted for stop-and-search, often claiming these are unlawful, they seldom seem to put in official complaints.”

In an effort to encourage people to stand up against the stop and search act, Mark was distributing a handy card which warns police officers that if a stop and search is intrusive, actions can be taken.

Back to 2000, Section 44 of Terrorism Act was enacted to grant police in England and Wales “limited statutory stop and search powers.”

In early 2008, Prime Minister Gordon Brown gave the police the power to stop and search people without giving a reason. (BBC)

 

Have you been stopped and searched? Tell us about it here.

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