NSW cops given power to remove veils

Australia: Muslim women can be forced to remove their face veils during routine car stops under new powers granted to NSW police.

Premier Barry O'Farrell said cabinet had approved the move on Monday so police could properly identify motorists or any other people suspected of committing a crime.

"I don't care whether a person is wearing a motor cycle helmet, a burqa, niqab, face veil or anything else, the police should be allowed to require those people to make their identification clear," he said in a statement.

Last week, NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said police needed stronger powers to identify women who wear full facial veils.

It follows the case of Sydney woman Carnita Matthews, who in November 2010 was sentenced to six months in jail for falsely accusing a police officer of forcibly trying to remove her burqa.

The case arose after Matthews was pulled over while driving in Woodbine in June 2010. Monday, MSN