That sounds like a Section 60 to me which is used when there is a threat of violence in an area. It is used to try and catch people who are carrying offensive weapons, weapons that would be used against the people in that area so they should be pleased to see the police taking action and being proactive in the fight against crime. If the police did nothing then they'd complain that the police weren't doing their job. As it happens in an area with high crime the majority of honest people have no problem at all with stop and search, most of the whingers tend to be criminal elements or the paranoid. Why don't people here get a life and support the fight against crime instead of constantly complaining. You're the ones who suffer when it gets out of control.

Um, you say that we'd be complaining if you didn't harrass people enough? Pardon? I don't actually think I would. If there's anything I'd like to see more within the police force it would be less swaggering "truncheon as a penis extention" bullshit where kids get searched cause some wanker in a uniform "reckons they're up to something" and a little more support. I got the shit kicked out of me a year ago (teeth broken, bruised face, hair ripped out) for walking down the street holding hands with a guy. I took it to the police, pointed out one of the guys involved from a set of photos, and they didn't even bother to talk to the witness (the guy I'd been holding hands with). There've been several other occasions when I've been assaulted and the police did nothing about it. However, the same police have been all too happy to harrass me and friends on demonstrations whilst we've been taking part in perfectly peaceful legitimate action.

I've also been harrassed just for walking down the street on my own and "looking suspicious".

To be honest the only thing that's ever worked for me in terms of being safe in society so far is fighting back directly cause the individual pigs that don't do shit about anyone that doesn't fit in with their little world view. They just get a uniform, some authority, some weapons and even some training about how to hurt people best, and there's no way for you to stop that.

The problem isn't that if you stop harrassing people for no legitimate reason that people will complain that you're not doing your jobs. You're not doing your jobs now in far worse ways.

Enforcer my fucking arse.

Anyone interested in issues of Policing and the gay community in Merseyside may be interested to know that there a quarterly Public Forum meeting where you can have your say on issues of Policing which effect the gay community. A working group meets at the Force H.Q. every month to deal with matters raised at the public form meetings.

As well as this, there are Police Surgery's at the Masquerade Bar, Cumberland Street Liverpool City Centre on the first and last Wednesday of the month.

For more information or to add your name to the mailing list contact the chair, Mike Homfray at  mlgcf@portnahaven.fsnet.co.uk

If you live in Merseyside and have been the victim of crime because of your sexuality contact SHOUTline in confidence on 0800 328 2244

For recorded information about Stop and Search and your rights call the Stop and Search Advice Line on 0800 138 1699. Information available in 10 languages.

www.merseyside.police.uk is the Merseyside Police website.