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If the venue is privately owned the second part doesn't scare me. I believe any privately owned property has the right to refuse entry to anyone they wish, and that that right trumps civil liberties. WHICH is why the first part of the story is a terrifying encroachment on liberty. No warrant? No laws broken? To have them simply enter and dictate what you're allowed to display on your own property? No way to refuse entry?

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What's frightening is that it's specifically a police power. If the private property owner wants to enforce private rules, they should pay for private security guards to do it. Why should public money be used for this?

EDIT: On further thought, it's worse. The article implies that police will have the power to remove items from people on the way to an event. That would be hideous if true. I want a corroborative source before I get too worked up about this, though.

here it is : http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/jul/21/olympics2012-civil-...

That corroborates one part but not the other, more worrying (but less likely) aspect.

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