This effectively permitted the police to stop and search, and even arrest, anyone found in a public place if they suspected that they intended to commit an offence.
[4] The sus law had attracted considerable controversy prior to the early 1980s race riots (in St Pauls, Bristol, in 1980, and in Brixton, London; Toxteth, Liverpool; Handsworth, Birmingham; and Chapeltown, Leeds in 1981).
[6] When questioned on the topic in 1980, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir David McNee stated that the reason for its disproportionate use on black people was because they were "over-represented in offences of robbery and other violent theft".
"[10][11] In January 2008, David Cameron, at the time Conservative leader of the opposition, announced that he would, if elected, seek to return similar powers to the police.
Gordon Brown, then-Labour prime minister, announced in response that he would seek to remove the lengthy forms that are currently required for 'stop and searches'.