Last night a group of 15 yobs went to a house armed with weapons.

Nobody was injured but police officers have now signed off special powers so that they can stop and search anyone in Blackbird Leys until 6.30pm.

What is a section 60 order?

The powers under section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act allow the police to stop and search someone without first having to have a ‘reasonable suspicion’ that they are carrying drugs, a weapon or stolen property.

An officer of the rank of inspector or above can authorise the section 60 searches in a particular geographical area for 24 hours at a time, but only if they believe that:

  1. Serious violence has already taken place in a particular area and by having the stop and search powers officers will be better placed to find the weapon or weapons used;
  2. Serious violence may take place in a particular area and the enhanced stop and search powers will prevent it happening;
  3. People are suspected to be carrying weapons in the area

 

The section 60 powers differ from police officers’ normal stop and search powers in one important way.

Normally, the police must have ‘reasonable grounds’ to suspect that someone is carrying drugs, a weapon, stolen property or something else linked to criminal activity before they are allowed to stop and search them.

But when the section 60 powers have been signed off for a particular area, police officers don’t need to have ‘reasonable grounds’ to suspect someone of carrying drugs or weapons before stopping them.

Guidance published by the College of Policing says police officers also have the power to ‘require the removal of disguises’ like face masks when section 60 stop and searches have been authorised.

Where does the order cover? 

The order will be in place until 6.30pm today and will be bordered by the B480 in the north and Grenoble Road in the south.

Oxford Mail:

What have police said? 

Inspector Melvin Mutch, based at Cowley police station, said: “This Section 60 order will temporarily give our officers more powers to carry out stop and search checks while we investigate the earlier incident.

“It is designed not only to protect the public but also to prevent the escalation of any further violence.

“More officers will be on the streets in the Blackbird Leys area while the Section 60 order is in place, so if you have any questions, just approach them and speak to them.”

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