tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786438112933136892.post344006306944588643..comments2023-03-30T13:55:57.743+01:00Comments on Random Blowe: Anonymous Sources Raise Olympic Trial BalloonKevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00003057501738525190noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1786438112933136892.post-87402282858641617082011-11-15T21:25:14.721+00:002011-11-15T21:25:14.721+00:00> This may well mean more arguments for a ‘temp...> This may well mean more arguments for a ‘temporary’ reversal of the repeal of section 44 of the Terrorism Act<br /><br />No need.<br /><br />Section 44 may have been repealed but the powers are still there. The Terrorism Act 2000 (Remedial) Order 2011 introduced section 47A. And this will become permanent with the Protection of Freedoms Bill. The change is that to give an authorisation, a 'senior office officer' must 'reasonably suspect that an act of terrorism will take place; and consider that (i) the authorisation is necessary to prevent such an act; (ii) the specified area or place is no greater than is necessary to prevent such an act; and (iii) the duration of the authorisation is no longer than is necessary to prevent such an act.' <br /><br />Once an authorisation is in place, there's no difference with the old section 44. <br /><br />And authorisations are not published so there's no public scrutiny that the authorisation process has indeed improved.<br /><br />(See <a href="http://gizmonaut.net/blog/uk/2011/03/terrorism_stop_search_plus_ca_change.html" rel="nofollow">Terrorism stop and search, plus ça change…</a> for a few more comments on these powers.)<br /><br />Of course there are other stop and search powers available that do not need any reasonable suspicion such as the Section 60 and 60AA of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act. The use of these powers <a href="http://www.met.police.uk/foi/pdfs/priorities_and_how_we_are_doing/corporate/mps_stop_and_search_monitoring_report_august_2011.pdf" rel="nofollow">spiked</a> in August.David Meryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03495006265433851938noreply@blogger.com