Father and Son Issue Legal Proceedings Over Luton Airport Terror Detention

Bindmans have issued a judicial review claim against Bedfordshire Police on behalf of Ziad and Tarek Najm regarding the decision to stop and detain the father and son using controversial Schedule 7 Terrorism Act powers at Luton airport on 8 September 2017. The case also concerns the way in which their personal information, including mobile phone downloads and DNA, was to taken. With the police’s agreement, we have applied to the court to stay the proceedings to allow Bedfordshire Police to comply with their legal obligations to respond to the questions and issues we put to them in our pre-action letter of 20 November.

Solicitor Anna Mazzola of Bindmans LLP, representing Tarek Najm said: “Tarek and Ziad remain concerned that false information is held about them, which will continue to impact their daily lives. They have never been accused of any crime and have no involvement with terrorism, and yet they have effectively been treated as criminals. To date, and despite solicitors’ letters and Data Protection Act requests, they have received no answers. We hope that the police will now explain to our clients the basis on which they were detained and questioned, confirm what information they hold about them, and confirm whether they will now delete it.

Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 gives the police disturbingly broad powers to detain people without suspicion, search them and insist that they answer personal questions. This leaves people feeling distressed, confused and alienated. It often means their travel plans are disrupted, but they receive no explanation or remedy. We are concerned that officers routinely download people’s mobile phones and take their DNA without proper consent.  Given the breadth of these powers, there needs to be proper accountability and oversight to prevent further abuses. People shouldn’t have to bring legal proceedings in order to get answers.”

Read more: Bindmans solicitors, http://bit.ly/2A3pvHv