Kit Malthouse says there are few other options but to make officers’ wider powers permanent
The policing minister has defended plans to ease restrictions on stop and search powers for police saying there is no feasible alternative if knife crime is to be tackled.
Amid alarm from campaigners at the permanent relaxation of section 60 powers for police in England and Wales to search anyone for a weapon if they have “reasonable grounds” to think they are involved in crime, Kit Malthouse said there were few other options.