Searches to Target Ethnic Groups

[Eugenius]

BBC

"We are very sensitive to the effects that that can have and it isn't an attack on particular communities."

I guess they've got to do what they've got to do

"So they are more likely to cut up rough when confronted by a police officer wanting to search them "

I don't think that's the issue, you'd get that happening even if they DID search everyone from all racial backgrounds.

I think it's more in the wider community people are going to feel more alienated, even those that haven't been searched could feel that their racial group is being singled out, and many of these communities are already reluctant to make voluntary contact with the police due to various reasons.

I agree, the communities where this already happens won't change, only the amount of people will, ie more.

It is probably too general a strategy to effectively address terrorism, and as people have said, it will alienate the 99% of peaceable British muslims who would never dream of taking up arms.

Probably far better to take more targetted direct action like closing down Finsbury Park mosque (runs for cover)...since the alledged leaders of both terrorist cells (7/7 and 21/7) attended that mosque according to today's news coverage

Go on - yell at me!

and before anybody starts on me, if members of a local parish church had bombed London in protest at the ordination of women, I would be arguing that their particular church should be closed down

If there was a direct link it should be investigated.

Handlemecarefully - I am a British Muslim and I agree with you!

What really annoys me is the fact that some groups of people can take advantage of the fact that we are able to exercise religious freedom here! Don't they realise that this is a blessing? One only has to look at the restrictions the French government has imposed and be grateful that we have the opportunities that we do here. We are able to build mosques, open schools, worship freely etc.. etc.. If they are using places of worship for anything other than that...well - it should be looked into and something done about it (with all the proof of course)

As for ethnic minorities being targeted, I have to say that it will do more harm than good. It can be quite humiliating to be stopped on a train and searched. I've had first hand experience of this kind of thing after 9/11 and surprise surprise...why? Because i'm white!!!

Thought I was saying something that might be seen to be contentious Cha Cha, (although it seems reasonable to me)....

Glad you agree....

Tariq Ramadam was saying as much yesterday on the news

Ah well there you go, me and Tariq; the voice of reason

I am 5ft, white and blonde haired, was searched this morning at the station on way to work. Was inconvenient mainly coz I lost my page in harry potter but fine otherwise. Spoke to a policeman friend of mine last week and he basically said their instruction is to stop anyone behaving suspiciously or behaving threateningly [shock}! Its a worry for me!

i was at party on Fiday, one of my friends is hindu and from India he has to change tubes three times for his journey to work, he told me last week he was stopped at all three interchanges on 3 seperate occasions, you can imagine how long it takes him to get to work. He wasn't angry just wondered if the met could give out badges saying I've been searched! might help with stares on tube too! He is now volunteering to be searched at the local tube station!

I don't know what i think about the policy - I find it distatseful and I am worried about the wider implications but I for one fel reasured by the searches. It is worryting for society as a whole however at least we are in a society that can admit that that is happening rather than denying all knowledge.

Hazel Blear was on radio 4 this morning saying that the stop and search policy has to be backed up with intelligence.

hmc, finsbury park mosque was closed down and after a long period it has now reopened. there are big posters outside (these were there before the bombings) talking about how they want to build better community relations etc, following the revalations about the links with terrorist organisations and specifically abu hamza, who's awaiting extradition to the US. another poster went up after the bombings condemning them (quotes from qur'an etc) and there's is a good sense of community, friendliness in the local shops etc.

Ark - A great idea for your friend to get a stamp or badge saying he had been searched!

DP said an Asian friend of his was sitting on the tube and a woman took pictures with her phone of all the non-white people in the carriage.

A fine and difficult line between asking for the public's co-operation in being vigilant is spotting packages, odd behaviour etc, and setting up groups to police each other with suspicion.

blu no !!!! What an earth is the point of that! Some people are so odd. Its a good job I wasn't there I wouldn't have been able to stop myself from saying something - I am far too outspoken for my own good sometimes !!

Blu, that woman needed a good shake (to put it mildly)

I don't see how badges could work - surely a potential bomber would just put one on?

yes you are probably right friend suggested it as bit of joke, also suggested producing 'I'm a Hindu ' T-shirts at the same time!

OldieMum - I think it was a joke.

DP has suggested leaving his flies undone to make clear his Hindu-background status - but even in the current climate I think he has more chance of being arrested for indecent exposure than under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

I wonder if the searches will get as awful as it is in the US.

At Majic Mountain outside Los Angeles, they search everyone but it seems to be used cynically to keep you from bringing in your own drinks and snacks so they can sell theirs at rip off prices.

DH (white)'s bag was looked in and let through with no problem. They looked in mine and told me that that I could not take in the bottle of Lucozade. Funny they never saw his 2 Lucozades and coolbox with ice.

I try not to travel through the US as I without fail feel like a criminal at customs & immigration by some of the rudest people in civil service.

An immigration officer in New York said to her that he supposed that she would find an American boyfriend so that she could stay.

Now that they fingerprint and photo everyone at the port of entry I refuse to travel to or through the US.

I can always go down the local high street and shop lift in order to be treated like a common criminal.

should read:
An immigration officer in New York said to my South African roommate that he supposed that she would find an American boyfriend so that she could stay.

Alux, but not at all surprising.

My brother lives in London and has told a policeman off for being really rude to an young asian youth who he said looked terrified whilst being searched at a tube station...the policeman offered to escort my brother to the station!

OMG blu, that is terrible. I don't know what the answer to all this is. I don't want one group to be intentionally singled out, at the same time I appreciate that the police want to sepnd their time in a way that may be more valuable. I also can see that more white muslims are going to be recruited.

One example from my tube journey with DS last week that I found perhaps a little insensitive - We stood right next to an Asian man with a huge rucksack. Now he smiled at DS and I felt quite well at ease. However, just before we got off and I saw the slogan on his t shirt was 'Second stage'. Now perhaps that could have been just a little better thought out?