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Proceeding contribution from Lord Thomas of Swynnerton (Crossbench) in the House of Lords on Wednesday, 1 February 2006. It occurred during Debate on bill on Terrorism Bill.


Terrorism Bill

My Lords, I speak as the father of someone who was once stopped in such circumstances. He looks a responsible person; indeed, once when he was at university he was in this House and asked by the then-Conservative Whip to delay his departure from the House on the grounds that the Whip supposed he was a hereditary Peer, so I assume that he looks respectable in normal circumstances. He was stopped in Walton Street on his way to a luncheon appointment. All his possessions were put on the pavement. He was detained for about 40 minutes and was therefore late for lunch. To be late for lunch is not a very serious matter, but there is no question that if the police did not cause a sense of grievance they caused a sense of distress and anger in the person concerned—perhaps anger is too strong, but in all events there was a sense that inconvenience had been unnecessarily caused. I shared that naturally, because I always side with what my family does or does not do. I have heard my son pouring ridicule on the police in consequence of that action, which seemed an excessive intrusion on his privacy.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
678 c232-3 
Session
2005-06
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Conduct ICT EU law Exemptions Libraries Internet Electronic commerce Journalism Protection Police Powers Prosecutions Proscribed organisations Publications Terrorism Stop and search Training Encouragement of terrorism
Legislation
Terrorism Bill 2005-06
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk