Results tagged “Pennie Quinton”

Two people who were subjected to stop and search techniques by police at an arms fair at the Excel centre in 2003 have finally won their battle to end the practice.

As well as securing the backing of the European Court, Kevin Gillan and Pennie Quinton were awarded more than £30,000 compensation.

Police say they still have permission to use stop and search powers, despite a European ruling that they are in breach of the Human Rights Act.

Since the Home Office has pledged to appeal the decision, the Metropolitan Police says its authorisation "remains in force in specified locations across London".

Police powers to randomly stop and search citizens have been declared illegal by the European Court of Human Rights.

Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 enables individuals to be searched "without reasonable suspicion". But the court declared yesterday that this carried "a clear risk of arbitrariness" and was not in accordance with the Human Rights Act.