Anti-terror stop and search figures

There were 32,395 stop and searches under section 44 of the Terrorism act 2000 in London between April and August 2007.

The law allows officers to stop and search people even if they do not suspect them of a crime.

The highest number was carried out in Tower Hamlets, at 2,976, and the lowest were in neighbouring Hackney, which had 186.

The stop and search figures for the News Shopper boroughs break down as follows and are further broken down by age group, ethnic appearance and gender.

Bexley total: 224

• Highest age group: 21-40 (102)

• By ethnic appearance: white (149)

• By self-defined ethnicity: white (148)

• By gender: male (190)

Bromley total: 428

• Highest age group: 21-40 (198)

• By ethnic appearance: white (273)

• By self-defined ethnicity: white (263)

• By gender: male (349)

Greenwich total: 404

• Highest age group: 21-40 (226)

• By ethnic appearance: white (189)

• By self-defined ethnicity: white (154)

• By gender: male (346)

Lewisham total: 269

• Highest age group: 21-40 (157)

• By ethnic appearance: white (138)

• By self-defined ethnicity: white (106)

• By gender: male (217)

The total figures are made up of a combination of categories including stop and search, stop and account and searches of unattended vehicles.

Stop and account will see an officer ask a resident to account for their actions, but no search is carried out.

Searches of unattended vehicles includes aircraft, trains and ships.

Stop and searches are divided into ethnic appearance as determined by the officers involved and the ethnicity of the person stopped according to their own judgement.

A Met Police spokesman said: "Stop and account and stop and search under the Terrorism Act 2000 is a vital tactic in the Met's counter terrorism strategy.

"The powers can disrupt and deter terrorist activity, create a hostile environment for terrorists and provide a visible reassurance to the public."

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