Latest news with #stopandsearch
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Police are AFRAID to stop and search suspected cannabis users, officers say
Police are now scared to stop and search suspects if they smell cannabis, officers revealed yesterday. Chief constables have called for those on the frontline to take a tougher line on the class B drug. But concerns were raised by Brian Booth, deputy national chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales. Head of the College of Policing Sir Andy Marsh has urged officers to act when they smell cannabis on the street as it is a 'sign of crime and disorder'. He told the Mail the stench makes even him 'feel unsafe'. The call from Britain's longest-serving chief constable, backed by the heads of Greater Manchester Police and Merseyside Police, has been welcomed by public safety experts. But yesterday the Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, revealed many are worried they could lose their jobs if a complaint is made about the search, which could take the police watchdog years to investigate. Mr Booth said: 'As an organisation, our position is that if this is a priority for senior officers, then make it a priority and we will deal with it. 'The problem is officers are afraid to stop and search, there has been so many high-profile cases and complaints that are officers going to take a risk by stopping someone for the smell of cannabis? 'There are so many priorities, we do not have the capacity to deal with everything. 'If you look at stop and search rates they have plummeted as there have been so many complaints and judicial challenges. 'If you have a group of people and you smell cannabis, do you search everyone? 'Do you risk then being accused of carrying out an unlawful search?' He added: 'You have people who will resist, you may be filmed and it will put on social media... A low-level drug like cannabis, which often ends in a person receiving a caution, officers will be considering the implications if they get it wrong.... Is it worth your job, that's what officers will be feeling.' In the past, the Independent Office for Police Conduct has said it is 'not good practice' for an officer to stop and search someone on the basis of the smell of cannabis alone. Yesterday Rory Geoghegan, of the Public Safety Foundation and a former Met officer and ex-adviser to the Home Office, backed the call by police chiefs. He said: 'Too many politicians, police chiefs and members of the public have been duped into believing cannabis causes little or no harm. 'It is refreshing to see police chiefs coming forward to make clear the importance of tackling the illegal use and supply of this drug. 'Be under no illusion cannabis ruins lives and brings crime and disorder to neighbourhoods.'
The Independent
04-07-2025
- The Independent
Oldham disorder involving car chase and machetes prompts police to extend powers
Police have authorised 24 hours of extended stop and search powers after disorder broke out in Oldham overnight with incidents involving machetes and a car chase. GMP said two men in their 20s and a man in his 50s have been arrested on suspicion of affray and remain in custody for questioning. The force authorised Section 60 powers to run from 2.59am on Friday until the same time on Saturday under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. This follows 'a number of incidents overnight involving weapons' in parts of the town, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said. Officers were called to reports of a chase between two SUVs on Lee Street at around 6.05pm on Thursday. One vehicle collided with a tree before men with machetes who were chasing the SUV attempted to attack the driver, GMP said. At about 10.20pm a large disturbance involving at least 10 men 'with various weapons' was reported, the force added. Police said they found more than 100 people were on the street, 'with pockets of disorder still in the area' that dispersed after officers arrived. Around 15 minutes later officers responded to claims a man had been attacked on Roundthorn Road, and found a 'smashed taxi' and a man in his 20s with minor injuries. Superintendent Cara Charlesworth, from GMP's Oldham division, said: 'Our number one priority, as always, is keeping the community in Oldham safe, and I believe this Section 60 authority is proportionate and necessary following a number of incidents overnight. 'This authority enables officers to utilise extra powers to stop-search individuals and hopefully ensure some potentially dangerous weapons that we have been aware of overnight, are taken off the streets. 'We have made arrests, seized vehicles that are believed to be involved in these incidents, CCTV inquires are ongoing and arrest attempts for outstanding suspects are being made.' She added: 'I would like to reassure the public that we are putting extra resources into the area to provide reassurance, which will continue into this evening and throughout the weekend. 'If you see any of our officers out on patrol, please speak to us, we are looking for any information that would assist us with our inquiries and your support is vital.' Witnesses have been asked to call the force on 0161 856 8994 or 101, or via its website, quoting log 330 of 04/07/2025. The Section 60 order covers the junction between Constantine Street and Greenacres Road, Greenacres Road to Oldham Way, and Oldham Way to Park Road. It also includes Park Road to the junction with King's Road, King's Road via the outer border of Snipe Clough Nature Reserve, Snipe Clough Nature Reserve to the Dean Terrance junction with Alt Lane, and Alt Lane to the Abbey Hills Road junction with Holts Lane. The order further includes Holts Lane to Sunny Bank, Sunny Bank to the Thomas Street junction with High Street, High Street to the Lees Road junction with Wellyhole Street, and Wellyhole Street to the junction between Constantine Street and Greenacres Road.
BBC News
04-07-2025
- BBC News
Oldham Police granted extra stop-and-search powers after disorder
Police in Oldham have been granted additional stop-and-search powers following overnight disorder which involved a car chase and machetes being Manchester Police (GMP) said three men - two in their 20s, the other in his 50s - had been arrested on suspicion of affray and remain in custody for force said Section 60 powers, granted under the 1994 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, would remain in place in Oldham until 02:59 BST on said it had been called to "a number of incidents overnight involving weapons" in parts of the town. 'Smashed taxi' Officers responded to reports of a chase between two SUVs on Lee Street at about 18:00 on said one of the cars crashed into a tree before machete-wielding men attempted to attack its at about 22:20, a large disturbance involving at least 10 men "with various weapons" was said more than 100 people were on the street, "with pockets of disorder still in the area".People dispersed after officers arrived, the force 15 minutes later, officers were called to reports that a man had been attacked on Roundthorn found a "smashed taxi" and a man in his 20s with minor injuries. 'Potentially dangerous weapons' Supt Cara Charlesworth, from GMP's Oldham division, said the Section 60 order was a "proportionate and necessary" response to the disorder."This authority enables officers to utilise extra powers to stop-search individuals and hopefully ensure some potentially dangerous weapons that we have been aware of overnight are taken off the street," she said. "We have made arrests, seized vehicles that are believed to be involved in these incidents, CCTV inquires are ongoing and arrest attempts for outstanding suspects are being made."The Section 60 order covers the junction between Constantine Street and Greenacres Road, Greenacres Road to Oldham Way, and Oldham Way to Park also includes Park Road to the junction with King's Road, King's Road via the outer border of Snipe Clough Nature Reserve, Snipe Clough Nature Reserve to the Dean Terrance junction with Alt Lane, and Alt Lane to the Abbey Hills Road junction with Holts order further includes Holts Lane to Sunny Bank, Sunny Bank to the Thomas Street junction with High Street, High Street to the Lees Road junction with Wellyhole Street, and Wellyhole Street to the junction between Constantine Street and Greenacres Road. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Yahoo
Oldham disorder involving car chase and machetes prompts police to extend powers
Police have authorised 24 hours of extended stop and search powers after disorder broke out in Oldham overnight with incidents involving machetes and a car chase. GMP said two men in their 20s and a man in his 50s have been arrested on suspicion of affray and remain in custody for questioning. The force authorised Section 60 powers to run from 2.59am on Friday until the same time on Saturday under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. #INCIDENT | This morning (Friday 4 July 2025), we authorised a Section 60 authority in the outlined area of Oldham. The Section 60 is in place following a number of incidents overnight involving weapons. — Oldham Police (GMP) (@GMPOldham) July 4, 2025 This follows 'a number of incidents overnight involving weapons' in parts of the town, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said. Officers were called to reports of a chase between two SUVs on Lee Street at around 6.05pm on Thursday. One vehicle collided with a tree before men with machetes who were chasing the SUV attempted to attack the driver, GMP said. At about 10.20pm a large disturbance involving at least 10 men 'with various weapons' was reported, the force added. Police said they found more than 100 people were on the street, 'with pockets of disorder still in the area' that dispersed after officers arrived. Around 15 minutes later officers responded to claims a man had been attacked on Roundthorn Road, and found a 'smashed taxi' and a man in his 20s with minor injuries. Superintendent Cara Charlesworth, from GMP's Oldham division, said: 'Our number one priority, as always, is keeping the community in Oldham safe, and I believe this Section 60 authority is proportionate and necessary following a number of incidents overnight. 'This authority enables officers to utilise extra powers to stop-search individuals and hopefully ensure some potentially dangerous weapons that we have been aware of overnight, are taken off the streets. 'We have made arrests, seized vehicles that are believed to be involved in these incidents, CCTV inquires are ongoing and arrest attempts for outstanding suspects are being made.' She added: 'I would like to reassure the public that we are putting extra resources into the area to provide reassurance, which will continue into this evening and throughout the weekend. 'If you see any of our officers out on patrol, please speak to us, we are looking for any information that would assist us with our inquiries and your support is vital.' Witnesses have been asked to call the force on 0161 856 8994 or 101, or via its website, quoting log 330 of 04/07/2025. The Section 60 order covers the junction between Constantine Street and Greenacres Road, Greenacres Road to Oldham Way, and Oldham Way to Park Road. It also includes Park Road to the junction with King's Road, King's Road via the outer border of Snipe Clough Nature Reserve, Snipe Clough Nature Reserve to the Dean Terrance junction with Alt Lane, and Alt Lane to the Abbey Hills Road junction with Holts Lane. The order further includes Holts Lane to Sunny Bank, Sunny Bank to the Thomas Street junction with High Street, High Street to the Lees Road junction with Wellyhole Street, and Wellyhole Street to the junction between Constantine Street and Greenacres Road.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
Extra police search powers after knife attacks
Police have been granted extra stop-and-search powers in an area of Manchester after two separate assaults in the past 24 hours in which a knife or sharp instrument was used. A 17-year-old boy and 18-year-old man were found with stab wounds in Stockport Road, Longsight, at 17:00 BST on Saturday. They remain in hospital and three men aged 18 were arrested. On Friday, a 24-year-old man with stab wounds went to A&E after an assault on Moss Lane East, Moss Side, at 20:00 BST. No arrests were made. A section 60 order is in place for 24 hours from 18:00 BST on Saturday in the area of Stockport Road, (at the Asda junction), Upper Brook Street, Princess Road, Platt Lane, and Dickenson Road. Det Insp Richard Struttman said: "These incidents have resulted in three male victims being treated in hospital for serious injuries." Extra officers and patrols have been deployed in the area to "provide a high visibility presence and offer community reassurance", Greater Manchester Police said. Extra police powers for Neighbourhood Weekender Greater Manchester Police
