Jacob Rees-Mogg warns of ‘intrusive’ police powers after his car was searched on Pall Mall under anti-terror laws
The Tory MP said he was 'hauled' over before police instructed him to get out and open his car boot
POSH Tory Jacob Rees-Mogg warned against “intrusive” police powers as he revealed how he was stopped and searched by cops while driving his children along London’s Pall Mall.
The backbench favourite told how he was “hauled” over close to where his mother lives when police instructed him to get out and open his car boot.
In a discussion on LBC radio he said: “We did have difficulties under stop and search, the law did allow the police to declare a zone in London where they could stop anyone under anti-terrorism powers.
“They didn’t like the look of me, and they, at that point, could stop anybody they felt like it in these specified zones around sensitive government areas and it was a very intrusive power in my view.”
The financier turned MP described his attitude to the stop and search as a “little bit grumpy” - although he said the police were “perfectly polite”.
He added: “I think the police have the powers that they need for stop and search and it’s how they use them.
MOST READ IN POLITICS
“It’s really important that stop and search powers are used in a race blind way, we do not want a group of people from minority communities feeling that the police are not on their side.”
It comes amid a growing debate on the use of stop and search powers by police and a spike in violent crime in London.
When Home Secretary, Theresa May brought in changes in 2014 meaning cops can only stop people if there is “reasonable grounds for suspicion”.
It came amid fears the power was being used disproportionately against black and ethnic minority groups.
But since then violent crime has risen - prompting fears for police powers to be increased.