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Home Office

Answer

Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue guidance to the police relating to the Prevention of Terrorism (Additional Powers) Bill to ensure (a) that women pedestrians are where possible stopped and searched by woman police officers in uniform,. (b) places of religious worship are not classed as non-residential accommodation which may be searched and (c) religious Sikhs are not required to remove their turbans; and if he will make a statement.[25370] Mr. Howard: [holding answer 16 April 1996]: Guidance on the new police powers contained in the Prevention of Terrorism (Additional Powers) Act 1996 was issued to police forces immediately upon the Act's coming into force. Further guidance is being prepared in consultation with the police and will be issued in due course but, as I made clear during the debates on 2 April, it would not be realistic to require women pedestrians to be searched only by women police officers. While sensitivities of sex and religious practice will be taken into account in the exercise of the powers contained in the Act, they do not provide justification for exemption from any of its provisions. The relevant Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 codes of practice will be formally applied as appropriate to the new powers.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

25370; 275 c567W

Session

1995-96

Subjects

Codes of practice Women Police Powers Stop and search Right of search Religious buildings Sikhs

Legislation

Prevention of Terrorism (Additional Powers) Act 1996