Police stop and search powers.?

Question

If the most imediate threat of terrorism is from young Arab men, is it racist to target these people when trying to catch terrorists. I'm sure young Irish men felt the same during the 70's.

So terrorist threat in an airport, should police stop white lady pensioners for wepons.

Go saz17.........

THC the name say's it all. You only get busted for possesion if you are carrying

Answer 1

In reference to an automobile, the police need reasonable articulable suspicion to stop you. In other words there needs to be something wrong. This can be as big as swerving and speeding to something benign like a license plate light out. Either way it has to be a legal stop. Once they stop you, there are only a few ways they can get to search your car. The most obvious: permission. You don't have to give it, and not giving it is not an admission of guilt. Also, you can give them limited search areas. "You may search the trunk and the glove compartment but nothing else." "You may search the ashtray only." Pretty cool huh?
Another way is incident to an arrest. If they arrest you, they may search all areas of the vehicle WITHIN YOUR IMMEDIATE CONTROL. They cannot search the trunk if they arrest you. HOWEVER, later on when they impound your car, they can and will do an inventory of the automobile. If they discover something there, it will be admissable.
Finally, with a warrant. But again, they need probably cause to get a warrant.

If we're just talking on the street, then they can just walk up to you and start talking. You do not have to talk back. Unless they tell you, you can ask if you're free to go and they'll usually say yes. There is what's called a "Terry stop." It's a short stop to ask you a few questions on the street. A "Terry Frisk" is legal if the officer has reasonable articulable suspcion to think you may have a weapon. They are allowed to pat you down for weapons for their safety.

Now that i've answered your question let me tackle the rest of it.
I think it is not racist to target young arab men if they fit the profile of a terrorist. However, the PC police have determined that it is. Police profile all the time. If they see a car parked behind the mall at 4 in the morning with 4 passengers dressed in black. And this mall is repeatedly broken into, are the police profiling? Yes they are. Is it reasonable to assume these 4 are up to something? Yes. Does the officer have grounds to investigate further, even up to the point of approaching them and asking them questions? You're darn right they do. If it's an 80 year old couple versus a group of teenagers which car do you think would be more likely to be up to no good? The teenagers, right. More teenagers get into trouble for vandalism or breaking and entering or whatever else than an 80 year old couple. Is that profiling? Yes. Does it make sense? Yes. Should we worry about our borders and airport security? Hell Yes. Should we be stopping young arab men and leaving granny alone? Yes. Will we? No, because we might offend someone.

Answer 2

racism - what exactly is it? I think its a ploy to ensure civil obedience when faced with overwhelming immigration. Train the host citizens to be tolerant simply to avoid overcrowding the jails when these non-western cultures do what they like here.

I drive an old car - most people who drive old cars have little money and statistically less likely to have MOT or tax. I was stopped yesterday and car checked out. I was legally on the road so everything was fine. Should I take the huff cos they picked on me cos i drive an old car. No. I just recognise that this type of car fits with a particular socio-economic group and associated poverty and criminality. Is that poorism? Ethnicities of the world get a grip.

Answer 3

The Police have continually been universal to apply powers they could desire to handle one set of circumstances as a fashion and ability to handle some thing completely different. As with the super worldwide warming con, anti terrorism rules are being misused by ability of many human beings in authority. The interior of sight authority at a beach motel (Poole in Dorset i've got self assurance) has used those anti terrorism rules to ascertain if childen utilising for specific faculties have been definitely resident outdoors the catchment section.! What danger will you have while they herald identification enjoying cards ? OH specific, i assume in case you have been of a different shade they does not have bothered as they could have been afraid you could play the race card !!

Answer 4

Thing is, that Tim McVeigh was a white American. There are many muslims who do not come under the 'young arab' label, I know a 21 year old who's going to convert when she marries.

The simple answer is it is racism - the question is can it be justified.

Answer 5

When the government profiles people it basically decides to harrass a certain group based only on their appearance; in effect, making them second class citizens. I was profiled for having long hair and a beard, I got searched and busted for possession... do you know why I was pulled over? because the cop "wasn't sure I had my seatbelt on". It was on... now I have a criminal record. Profiling is bullsh*t.

Answer 6

Good point ! I think at this time of high terror alerts that any suspicious looking person should be stopped and searched. A good question, my friend, one of which should cause some debate. Well done !

Answer 7

Yes it's called profiling. You have to have reasonable suspicion to stop and search someone, and belonging to a certain race/ethnicity is not a justifiable reason to stop anyone.

Answer 8

It is not racist. It is perfectly legal.