Brits get it right

Instead of "random searches," London police are searching for specific targets:

Police are still on high alert in London amid fears that a third terrorist cell could be plotting another strike on the capital.

Thousands of officers have been on the streets and guarding Tube and overland rail stations.

[…]

British Transport Police have been targeting specific ethnic groups for "intelligence-led" stop-and-searches as part of their heightened security measures.

BTP Chief Constable Ian Johnston said that his officers would not "waste time searching old white ladies".

Bravo!

Meanwhile, back in the US …

11 Responses to "Brits get it right"

Beth Donovan says:

August 1, 2005 at 6:54 pm

When I was returning home from London in late May, I started to take my shoes off and take my laptop out of my backpack.

The security guys at the airport laughed at me and said “we can see what is in your backpack- what do they have you people doing in the States?”
And also – no need to remove your shoes – perhaps because I’m a middle aged white woman, ya think?
Sister Toldjah says:

August 1, 2005 at 7:25 pm

I imagine your time waiting in the line to get through the gates was less that it was here, too

Incidentally, it goes without fail that I am *always* randomly searched at airports. It’s happened to me three times in the last five years. My carry on is usually searched thoroughly. Luckily, I’ve never had to have a pat down search.
actus says:

August 1, 2005 at 9:35 pm

Sounds like they have specific intelligence, which is not what our bag searches have. Actually, our bag searches sometimes DO have specific intelligence, like the fact that alarms went off.
John says:

August 1, 2005 at 10:53 pm

I sure hope we don’t have to suffer another successful attack by terrorists who walk straight through our security system without being searched before we get our heads on straight and decide that maybe profiling isn’t some horrible, racist stunt after all.
Aakash says:

August 1, 2005 at 10:53 pm

The British really need to get their act together – when it comes to focusing on priorities in their fight against militant Islamic terror. (Then again, so does Washington.)

I was just thinking this afternoon about how, under Blair’s socialist government, a conservative commentator (and member of a European royal family) was arrested for simply writing a column that offended the Left, while a dangerous ideology is allowed to fester and flourish. Meanwhile, the Balkan Islamic militants are also flourishing, after having been aided by military support from the Blair and Clinton administrations. All I can say is: Perfidious Albion.

By the way, I found this weblog via a “BlogAds” advertisement from the weblog of ‘The Anchoress’… I was a bit suprised, because this looks like an impressive site, but I don’t recall ever having visited here before. [I’ve known of Mr. and Mrs. Donovan’s blogs for awile… My last entry is about them, in fact ]… Is ‘Sister Toldjah’ (great title!) new? Keep up the good work here!
Sister Toldjah says:

August 2, 2005 at 8:52 am

Actus: You know my stance on the matter of random searches already so let’s just let it drop at this point as I’m afraid I don’t have the patience to go through it with you again this morning.

John: I hope not either. The images posted out there of the 9-11 hijackers just waltzing through security the morning of the attacks haunt me (and I’m sure others) to this day.

Aakash: Thanks! I’ve actually been blogging since October of 2003 but officially changed the name of the blog (along with getting a domain name – I used to be at Blogspot) to “Sister Toldjah” last August 2004 (around this time last year, in fact). When my 2 year “blogisversary” rolls around, I’ll post a bit more about the history of the ST blog

Re: America and the Brits needing to get their acts together, I completely agree. I think in some ways, the US is ahead of the game (via the Patriot Act) and in some respects the Brits are (as you can see by the piece I linked to in this blog entry). We’re obviously doing a lot more since 9-11, but I don’t think it’s enough. The feds probably find themselves in the middle of a rock and a hard place in terms of finding ways to locate and arrest terrorists here on our own soil without violating the Constitution. Where we’re failing big time IMO, is with our immigration policy and Michelle Malkin and La Shawn Barber have more than hit that point home and I completely agree with them.
Shipwrecked says:

August 2, 2005 at 11:56 am

Last time I flew from London Heathrow, about 2 years ago, I had to go through the “take off your sneakers” routine. Being white, I would make an unusual Islamic terrorist.

Britain and America will never be safe when they allow so many people from enemy nations to reside in their countries. Little seems to be done to vet who is entering, and what they get up to once they are here.
actus says:

August 2, 2005 at 1:41 pm

” Being white, I would make an unusual Islamic terrorist.”

You wouldn’t be that different from a shoe bomber.
fine dry wit says:

August 2, 2005 at 2:27 pm

No matter how many precautions we make, if another major attack happens soon in the United States, you are going to see the left side of the blogosphere and media erupt, blaming the Administration for allowing it to happen. And causing it to happen because of it’s policies.
Keep vigilant, and keep prayers going up to God, asking Him to keep it from happening.
Sister Toldjah says:

August 2, 2005 at 3:51 pm

Wit, it’s a danged if you do or don’t situation – we do ‘too much’ and the admin gets criticized for ‘violating civil liberties.’ If an attack happened, they’d be screaming the admin ‘didn’t do enough.’
Ryan says:

August 2, 2005 at 10:28 pm

It’s always amusing doing the ol’ remove the shoes routine when I fly back to CA from Fargo, ND.

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