Town Hall warning over stop and search’ of East End Asians
TOWN Hall bosses in London’s East End with its large Muslim population are warning about the policy of stop and search’ being misused. This follows shock figures released today showing black and Asian people being targeted more than whites
By Keir Mudie
TOWN Hall bosses in London’s East End—with its large Muslim population—are warning about the policy of stop and search’ being misused.
This follows shock figures released today showing black and Asian people across London being targeted more than whites.
The worst area for Asians being stopped and third-worst for blacks being stopped was Tower Hamlets, according to the Equality & Human Rights Commission report.
There were 7,120 searches of Asians and 3,880 searches of blacks from 2007 to 2008 in this one area.
The council’s cabinet member responsible for policing, Abdul Ullah, told the East London Advertiser this-evening: “I take offence when stop and search’ is being used incorrectly and members of any community are being harassed by those in or out of uniform holding a badge.
“It’s not the figure that concerns me, it’s the way people are treated.”
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But he supports the policy of stop and search’ as part of the local authority’s war on knife crime in the East End.
“This is a policy I support when it’s being used in the right way,” he went on. “People are carrying offensive weapons, guns and knives, and when this policy is used correctly it can help to make the streets safer.”
A survey in Tower Hamlets show more than 60 per cent of the public has confidence in the police, Cllr Ullah claims. The survey shows confidence doubling compared to a year ago.
