POLICE don't need greater powers to stop and question. They don't require a new anti-terror legislation that gives them the power to charge with obstruction anyone who refuses to divulge their name when asked.

Where is the justice in fining an individual £5,000 because they failed to explain what they were doing when a police officer demanded to know?

These new "powers" won't prevent the spread of religious fundamentalism. In fact, by making ordinary folk feel persecuted they will make it more likely.

What police really need are greater ties with local communities, particularly Muslim communities.

By placing no value on building relationships with different ethnic groups, the new powers, which are due to form part of a package being put together by Home Secretary John Reid, are likely to further erode confidence in policing.

Police already have the right to stop people and question them if they have any suspicions.

But under the proposed laws, they will not need to suspect that a crime has taken place, and can use their powers to gain information about "relevant matters" during a terror investigation.

The only part of the UK where police already have these powers is Northern Ireland.

Ironically, the stop and question power is due to be repealed as part of the peace agreement.

Are we to believe that life on mainland Britain is now more dangerous than Northern Ireland?

We don't believe so and we don't believe these powers will make a scrap of difference.