Picture: Louise Samuels

Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act (1994) gives the police the power “to search people in a defined area during a specific time period when they believe, with good reason, that: serious violence will take place and it is necessary to use this power to prevent such violence.”

This was invoked from Monday 4 PM through to Tuesday at 4 AM.

The 12-hour period is the normal time-frame for the use of Section 60 stop and searches.

But the use of Section 60 has been largely criticised by stop and search campaigners.

Section 60 ‘stop and searches’ differ from normal stop and searches because they have to be approved by a senior police officer.

Furthermore, the guidelines state that, “officers carrying out searches using this power are not required to have reasonable grounds to suspect that the person or vehicle is carrying weapons.”

Stop and searches without suspicion

Ken Hinds, 50, is a member of the Haringey Independent Stop and Search Monitoring Group. He also works with the Metropolitan and British Transport Police in discussing the usage of stop and search.

Mr. Hinds sitting in a chair
Mr. Hinds is a member of the Haringey Independent Stop and Search Monitoring Group

“We hold the police to account, and the way we do that is by scrutinising the police data,” he said. “We also organise meetings with senior police officers, to actually raise our concerns around the use of stop and search.”

On stop and searches, he said, “it’s an intrusive power, people feel humiliated when the police use it, and they feel embarrassed.”

Political  support for stop and search

But senior police and political figures have supported the use of stop and searches.

Writing in the Evening Standard in January, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan wrote that there will be “a significant increase in the use of targeted stop and search by the police across our city.

“When based on real intelligence, geographically focused and performed professionally, it is a vital tool for the police to keep our communities safe.”

Metropolitan police commissioner Cressida Dick also supports the use of stop and search.

Speaking on the BBC last year, she said, “I am very much in favour of stop and search.

“And I’ve said that to my officers and I want them to feel confident to use it.”

 

But the use of Section 60 stop and searches concerns Mr. Hinds.

“I can’t see the purpose of using it [Section 60] after there’s been a stabbing or a shooting,” he said.

“What happens is they go to the scene of the crime, but if I’m the perpetrator of that vile act, I’m going to make get some real distance. The only people that are left are friends, family and witnesses to the crime.

“From my point of view, that’s a golden moment for the police to get some vital information. But if you use Section 60, you lose that golden moment. Do you think that if I’m stopped and searched I’m going to give you any information? I’m going to give you the finger and walk off.”

Tune in to City News at 3:30pm for the full report…