Independent Police Complaints Commission,
90 High Holborn,
London WC1V 6BH,

Tuesday 5th September 2006

Dear Sir/Madam,

SUBJECT: 1ST SEPTEMBER STOP AND SEARCH COMPLAINT

I wish to register the following complaint against the police force.

On Friday 1st September 2006 at around 9pm. I was sitting in Leicester Square after a film I had planned to see was cancelled. A uniformed police officer approached me and took me to one side. He asked what I was doing and I said resting. He said I was to be searched because I was alone and there were some people seated quite close to me, which fits the profile of a bag thief. He offered no other explanation nor informed me of any rights. He put on gloves and conducted the search in public view. The search turned up nothing (of course). He explained that most thieves are single males and these ‘profiling searches’ result in many arrests.

He then took my details and a colleague of his approached and did a radio check and found that I have no record whatsoever. He then said I was doing nothing wrong and could continue.

Since the search I’m constantly uncomfortable. Due to degenerative damage in my hip I often have to be seated, especially when I have to walk around London. I’ve also noticed I’m especially uncomfortable when someone seats themselves near me.

I’ve looked into the matter due to the after effects, and have discovered that the search was improper. Firstly, from the moment I was asked what I was doing, I should have been offered a form, and at no point was this mentioned or offered. Secondly, there needed to be reasonable suspicion (according to police guidelines).

As well as the police guidelines, the site at www.yourrights.org states:

“However, reasonable suspicion can sometimes exist without specific information or intelligence and on the basis of some level of generalisation stemming from the behaviour of a person. For example, if an officer encounters someone on the street at night obviously trying to hide something, this clearly constitutes conduct that might reasonably lead the officer to suspect that stolen or prohibited articles are being carried.”

But the only reason I was given was that I was alone with people seated near me, fitting the profile of a bag theif.

The only exception is at the C.A.B. site:

“In some circumstances a police officer of the rank of inspector or above can give the police permission to make stops and searches in an area for a certain amount of time - as long as this is for no more than 24 hours. When this permission is in force the police can search for offensive weapons or dangerous instruments whether or not they have grounds for suspecting that people are carrying these items. An officer with the rank of assistant chief constable or above, can also give permission for searches in an area in order to prevent acts of terrorism.”

But the person searching me, nor anyone, said any such thing was in force, and I was the only person singled out.

I have decided to complain because I believe the search was against the police guidelines, as well as being incompetently carried out for the following reasons:

• No form was mentioned or offered to me at any point.
• If any special order was in force, this was not mentioned at all.
• Being alone with people sitting near you is insufficient reason for a search.
• Implying that the reason for a search is being seated next to some people is incredibly unwise, as after the search, when allowed to return to the previous position, many very reasonable people would conclude/wish to clarify whether the persons around one had made some kind of complaint or should be objects of resentment. Thus with people less passive than myself, what commenced as an illegal and incompetent stop and search could escalate into a public argument.

I went to the police headquarters in Wood Street yesterday to find it had closed early, and phoned them today but there’s no reply. So I am sending this letter to yourselves and a copy to Wood Street station as the initial action on my part.

I look forward to your reply.

Yours faithfully,