2012 Police plans under fire

Police are planning to use controversial anti terror powers to stop and search members of the public across the country during the London Olympics.

The powers, as defined in section 44 of the Terror Act 2000, have been deemed illegal by the European Court of Human Rights. However, according to reports in The Times, senior officers are considering their use at every Underground and railway station nationwide during the 2012 games.

Privacy campaigners criticised the proposal yesterday. The powers would enable police to stop and search members of the public without any suspicion that they were involved in terrorism.

Steve Thomas, Olympic National Transport Security Co-ordinator for the Home Office, said tougher security measures were planned given the heightened threat Britain is likely to face during the 2012 Games.

“If there is a severe level of threat we will be looking to use Section 44 at every Underground and railway station,” Thomas said.

Last month the use of the terror law was criticised by the European Court of Human Rights. It found that Section 44 violated individual freedoms guaranteeing the right to private life.

Despite this, Alan Johnson, the Home Secretary, said that police would continue to use Section 44. The Home Office is appealing against the European Court ruling.

Last month Britain raised its terrorism threat level to ’severe’ - the second highest level - in the days before London hosted international meetings on Afghanistan and Yemen.

Britain gave no reason for the raise in threat level but it means security services now consider an attack in Britain to be “highly likely”.