• Issue 1

"Every time you pick up a penny at the roadside, immediately go to Uncle Police with it."

All Chinese children are taught this principle - that the police should be the first to know of both difficulties and good deeds.

Here in the UK, my interactions with both transport police and "bobbies on the beat" have convinced me that they are also highly trustworthy.

But a new Home Office proposal could destroy this trust, as it would allow police to stop and question anyone they "reasonably suspect" of being involved in illegal activity. Unfortunately, no guidelines for suspicious activity are given.  It's definitely a black mark against democracy and, if approved, will become a double-edged sword in the hands of our officials.

In fairness, the policy is born of good intentions. Although not as high-profile, creating a safer community is equally as noble combating terrorism and climate change.

Every evening, my sleep is cut short as blaring sirens reverberate through my north London flat. Daily my wary eyes remind me that our city is far from safe and that community policing must become more effective.

The real question, though, is whether the freedom to "stop and question" people is preferable to increasing operational resources and improving training. Perhaps there's a middle ground.

The government, and the police themselves, need to take a sober look at their capacity to guarantee us safety and security - and this should be made public so that you and I can join the debate about how to improve their capabilities.

If the final agreement is that there are no better means than random questioning for the police to deliver safety, then we can assess the best way to put the plan into action. However, alongside this, there must be clear safeguards to prevent the abuse of police power and avoid racial profiling and discrimination.

If such significant powers are bestowed on the police, then we and our goverment have a grave responsibility to establish a system that prevents them from overreaching and infringing on our civil liberties.

I don't want to fear the police that I've come to trust, so for me, "stop and question" isn't a viable solution.

While sirens blaring at night don't let me sleep soundly, neither will giving the police such lopsided powers.