POLICE officers will be able to stop and search anyone in east Oxford after two men were stabbed last night.
Superintendent Joe Kidman, the local policing area commander for Oxford, said: "Following the incident, a neighbourhood operation has been put in place and you may see more officers patrolling the area to reassure our community and keep people safe.
"There is a Section 60 Order in place for an area of east Oxford which enhances stop and search powers. This will be used by local officers in an intelligence-led way to prevent further incidents.
“If you are stopped by an officer, please don’t be concerned – it does not mean you are in trouble. If you have any questions or concerns at all, please feel free to approach officers and ask.”
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What is a Section 60 Order?
Section 60 is a power that allows police officers to stop and search anyone without suspicion in a particular area - for example, where there is evidence that serious violence has or will take place.
Usually, people can only be searched if there are 'reasonable grounds' to suspect that they are something illegal - like carrying drugs or a weapon.
But a Section 60 Order allows officers for a limited time to search anybody without 'reasonable grounds'.
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