Anti-terror laws 'alienating Asians'

David Blunkett's anti-terror laws have inflamed tensions between the police and London's black and Asian communities, MPs were told today.

Muslim leaders claimed " hundred of thousands" of young Asians had been alienated since the Terrorism Act was introduced four years ago.

They were backed by the Metropolitan Police Authority which questioned whether the Act had helped in the fight against terrorism.

The Authority, which monitors the performance of the Met, said police use of "stop and search" under Section 44 of the legislation had a "huge" negative impact on community relations.

In evidence to the Commons Home Affairs Committee, the MPA reported that Section 44 had "created deeper racial and ethnic tensions against the police and trampled on basic human rights".

It also said it "cut off valuable sources of community information and intelligence and exacerbated community divisions".

It continued: "Clearly, Section 44 powers do not appear to have proved an effective weapon against terrorism."

Figures show a 300per cent rise in the number of Asians being stopped and searched in England and Wales last year.

In London, 9,642 stop and searches were carried out resulting in 105 arrests, of which only two were related to terrorist offences.

Giving evidence to the Committee, Sadiq Khan of the Muslim Council of Britain said: "All we have done is alienate hundreds of thousands of young Asian lads." As a result, members of the Asian community were less willing to come forward with information which could help prevent a terrorist outrage, he said.

Trevor Phillips of the Commission for Racial Equality said stop and search powers were being used to "stigmatise" the black community.

However, Sir John Quinton, a former member of the MPA, supported the Terrorism Act.

"It has made London safer for Londoners. I accept there is an alienation factor but we have to say there's a deterrent effect to Section 44," he said.