Yes we are losing our freedom

It's funny how things happen when you lease expect them to.

My last blog was about the Terrorism Act, Section 44 which gives the police the right to stop and search anyone that they want.

A day after writing the blog, myself and another student were pretty much interrogated by staff at our town shopping centre.

Our weekly newsday

As a weekly task, we are sent out with audio equipment to interview local residents about a variety of topics. This weeks topics were transport in London and Taser guns (see next blog for more information on Taser guns.)

We were able to conduct a small number of interviews with some very friendly people until we were approached by security who wanted a word with us.

After answering questions about what this piece of equipment was, what we were doing, what questions we were asking, where we were from; we went to see management.

In the dingy basement was the managers office. Again we were questioned.

Both aspiring journalists, we were sort of exited about the prospect of being given a warning under the Terrorism Act as it would be an interesting piece to write about. Sad really.

But the truth is they let us go on. I don't think they thought we were possible terrorist suspects. We promised to leave within fifteen minutes.

A step in the wrong direction

Even so, we both felt a little uneasy about being stopped as we had. It has got to the point where two students doing some harmless interviewing are being questioned in a local shopping centre.

After this weeks attacks in Mumbai, security should and will be at the top of the governments list.

But when two girls are being questioned for walking around with a voice recorder, it answers the question of my last blog perfectly.

Yes we are losing our freedom.