Following the example of Essex police, Jacqui Smith will today urge police to adopt tactics routinely used against protesters on "thugs" in "problem estates". As a new initiative to deal with "anti-social" behaviour, this relies not on conviction for crime, but on the harassment of young people who the police have identified as "troublemakers", regardless of their criminal record. This shows a level of authoritarianism unprecedented in Western Europe. The aim according to Smith, is to "create an environment where there is nowhere to hide" through relentless police harassment - filming, on the spot searches and so on. The implications of the police harassing people who have committed no crime for the role of the police in Britain is not part of the agenda.

 http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/may/08/police.ukcrime