Britain installs harsh policing powers

[DanaC]

Whereas Brits might not be annoyed

The last time we had such laws in place (known as the sus laws) they were a major factor in creating a near warzone of rioting in predominantly poor, black areas. This was because they were disprorportionately employed against black youths, at a time when racial tension was at a high.

Now....we have a situation where racial tensions are once again at a high. This time it's the Asian youth who are likely to be targetted. At a time when racial assaults/insults are rising in our schools and the process of white flight has created a whole new set of ghettoes, with asian communities and white communities leading entirely seperate and distinct lives, I think there is a danger of these measures causing real problems. Already we have had several high profile cases of people being targetted under 'terror' laws, only to discover that their only crime was to be young moslem men. One of them was shot and injured by over enthusiastic police as they were dragging the family out of their home. The police who mistakenly shot the young Brazilian man on the tube station have been allowed to get away without even a reprimand. One of them has even been promoted. They put six bullets into that lad as he lay on the train floor. His crime was to have dark skin and be living in the same block of flats as a person they were watching for.

If the police are able to carry out new stop and search/question powers, they will use them with the groups they feel are most risky: young Asian men. Given that those young Asian men are already experiencing much greater police attention my guess is this is likely to spark a whole new set of riots.