§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Association of Chief Police Officers regarding the provisions of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 on the power of police officers to conduct blanket searches at or in the immediate vicinity of sports stadiums; and if he will make a statement.—
§ Mr. Giles Shaw[pursuant to his reply, 4 April 1985, c. 727]: My right hon. and learned Friend is considering representations from the Association of Chief Police Officers about whether the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 might have any adverse effect on the ability of the police to conduct blanket searches at sports grounds. He intends to refer the association to the answer I gave to 229W a question from my hon. Friend on 2 April, at columns 570–71, since he believes that this answer, particularly its last paragraph, should reassure those who believe that the conduct of the police will be inhibited in this respect by the provisions of the 1984 Act.