News Brief

Bishop attacks Howard's crime policy

-11/8/04

The Bishop for Birmingham has attacked a new policy statement on criminal justice by the Conservative Leader Michael Howard, reports the BBC.

Mr Howard said he wanted to do away with the "political correctness" of police officers issuing receipts to everyone they stopped and searched.

The Bishop, the Rt Rev John Sentamu, advised the Stephen Lawrence inquiry panel, which reported in 1999. He has also previously called for more consideration by policy-makers of restorative approaches to criminal justice, which focus on making right the relationship between victim and offender, rather than on punishment.

The Bishop said it was important for police to use their powers to act professionally, appropriately and legally.

Mr. Howard also said, in his speech in Middlesbrough: "In response to the 9/11 disaster David Blunkett rightly gave the police new stop and search powers to deal with terrorism.

"At the time he described them as "reasonable and proportionate".

"Not surprisingly the police used those new powers.

"But no sooner had they done so than the Government instigated an inquiry into their use.

"Politicians in Whitehall need to stop second guessing the police at every turn."

Ugandan-born Bishop Sentamu became the first black bishop in the UK to take charge of an Anglican diocese when he was appointed Bishop for Birmingham two years ago.

Before that, he was the suffragan Bishop of Stepney, east London.