Police powers (From The Oxford Times)

Police powers

6:40am Thursday 25th February 2010 in

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We understand the need to remain vigilant in the face of the terrorist threat to this country. We also understand when the police say they need extra powers to counter the sinister threats we face.

With extra powers, however, comes added responsibility to use them wisely. Many have legitimate concerns that powers to stop and search people under terrorism legislation could be misused.

Those concerns are fuelled by incidents like the one we report this week in Kidlington High Street involving an innocent passer-by.

While it may be credible to argue that someone taking photographs in a suspicious manner at a major station or airport can be stopped by police, it is stretching the imagination to suggest that that argument extends to the photographing by a passer-by of police at work in Kidlington High Street. At the very least, Mr Stephen Russell deserves an apology.