London cops give IT hack computers back

London Inquirer
Oct. 24, 2005

DAVID MERY has finally got all of his computer kit back, after he was arrested at a tube station for being a suspected terrorist.

Under section 44 of a Terrorist Act, police can stop and detain and search anyone they suspect. This only applies to "designated areas". London is one of those, and selected spots throughout the country are also designated.

Mery, a French citizen, said on the BBC Radio 4 Broadcasting House programme this morning that being arrested was a terrifying experience.

After handcuffing him behind the back, London cops questioned him closely about doodles on a piece of paper in his rucksack which the police believed was a map of Southwark tube station.

It wasn't. Mery told the BBC it was just doodles and the problem with doodles was that people could read into them anything they wanted to.

At the Labour Party conference a few weeks ago, an 82 year old member of the party was arrested in Blackpool under section 44 of the Terrorist Act for heckling a minister. After being manhandled by professional bouncers, the Prime Minister personally apologised to him. Blackpool must have been a designated area, otherwise the police would have exceeded their authority.

The BBC reported that a survey they'd done of the provisions of Section 44 revealed that Yorkshire farmers close to the famous golf ball centre near Whitby on the North Yorks moors had been detained for being suspected terrorists. Some had been repeatedly stopped and searched by armed police.

One man told Broadcasting House that it was like living in a police state. More here. µ