Use of S43 of the Terrorism Act against members of the public photographing police stations
Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),
For each of the last three months - i.e. August, September and October 2020:
1. On how many occasions were photographers taking pictures outside police stations stopped and searched under powers provided under S43 of the Terrorism Act?
2. Of those searched under S43, how many were subsequently:
a. arrested for terrorism offences?
b. arrested for non-terrorism offences?
3. The related Code of Practice states the following with regard to stop and search using S43 powers:
“Searches are more likely to be effective, legitimate, and secure public confidence when reasonable suspicion is based on a range of factors. The overall use of these powers is more likely to be effective when up to date and accurate intelligence or information is communicated to officers and they are well-informed about the nature of the terrorist threat, potential targets and ways in which terrorists are known to operate.”
For each of the stop and searches identified in answer to 1. above, on how many occasions was the required reasonable suspicion based upon “a range of factors” as outlined as best practice in the Code of Practice extract quoted, i.e. not solely on there being a photographer using a camera in close proximity to a police station?
Yours faithfully,
John Smith
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Your ref:
Our ref: 01/FOI/20/016709
04/12/2020
Dear Mr Smith
Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 01/FOI/20/016709
Please see the attached in respect of your Freedom of Information request
referenced above.
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Yours sincerely
C. Gayle-Petrou
Information Manager
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