Numbers of police 'stop and search' incidents soar

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Police officers failing to meet stop and search quotas are being threatened with the sack, British Transport Police (BTP) revealed last week.

Officers report that an unofficial minimum of 30 searches a day must take place in Scotland’s train stations alone, following the attack on Glasgow Airport last year. Since July, a reported 4000 searches have taken place at Edinburgh’s Waverly and Haymarket stations.

BTP officers also stated that the new anti-terror laws have forced them to search people who present the most unlikely of potential threats, such as school children, old age pensioners and even priests. However, this may not come as too great a surprise given Superintendent Lovegrove’s claim that “a terrorist is just as likely to be a white, blonde woman as opposed to the image many people may hold.”

In an e-mail leaked to the press, a senior BTP official informed officers of the repercussions they face should they fail to meet the quota of daily searches.

It stated: “[Assistant Chief Constable] Pacey has indicated officers not complying with his instructions will be moved from their posts or even disciplined to the level of losing their jobs.”

The BTP claim to have no record of the message, but admitted that senior officials have sent a number of emails informing officers of their duties under anti-terror laws. It also maintained that no “specific targets” existed.

A BTP officer, who wished to remain nameless, explained how the searches were causing significant discomfort among the workforce.

He said: “This has really affected morale and I know a lot of officers are uncomfortable with what seems to be a near obsession with stop and search.

"At the start of the shift, officers are told by supervisors 'I need you to do, say, five or six today' and questions are asked if you're not achieving this. My worry is they seem to be using them as fishing exercises for other things like drugs and weapons but using terrorism laws as a catch-all power."

"You have officers stopping grannies or 15-year-old children and it is just embarrassing. They are so focused on keeping the numbers up and making sure the paperwork is up to date. People have been told to just get names out of the phone book so forms are completed."

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