Stop and Search

Report: 4
Date: 21 May 2009
By: T/AC Territorial Policing on behalf of the Commissioner

Summary

This report provides an update of and developments in the MPS use of Stop and Search powers.

A. Recommendation

That the MPA Community Equalities and People Committee note the MPS stop and search updates and developments in response to the MPA Commissioning Brief.

B. Supporting information

1. The main intention of stop and search is to allow officers to allay or confirm suspicion about people, without exercising their power of arrest. Searches must be based on reasonable grounds for suspicion that the person has a particular article in their possession. Exceptions to this are when officers are:

• Authorised under section 44 Terrorism Act 2000;
• Authorised under section 60 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

2. The MPS accounts for over a third of all stops and searches in England and Wales. On average there are in excess of 60,000 searches and 40,000 stop and accounts taking place each month in the MPS.

3. Use of stop and search powers has to be tempered with the knowledge and understanding that it requires the trust and confidence of the community to be fully effective.

4. The use of stop and search in the MPS is directed by policy and five SOP’s. The aim of the MPS stops and searches policy is to ensure that officers comply with the law, acting within their powers and that all stop and search/account powers are used fairly, responsibly, without unlawful discrimination and with respect for people being searched.

5. Section 1 Police And Criminal Evidence Act 1984 gives police officers powers to stop and search persons/vehicles in a place to which the public have access where they have reasonable grounds to suspect the person is in possession of stolen or prohibited articles and may detain the person/vehicle for the search.

6. Section 1 Criminal Justice Act 2003 extended the powers of police officers to search for any article made, adapted or intended for use in causing criminal damage if they have reasonable suspicion that a person is carrying any such item.

7. Recommendation 61 (Stop and Account) of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report placed an obligation on police services to record encounters where a police officer stops a member of the public and asks them to account for themselves but does not search them. Detailed information was recorded and a copy of the record given to the person stopped.

8. The Review Of Policing by Sir Ronnie Flannagan recommended a less bureaucratic process for recording Stop and Account. On 1st January 2009 a revised recording process was implemented which only requires police to record Self Defined Ethnicity of the person stopped, Date, Time, Location and the details of the officer conducting the Stop and Account.

9. Section 60 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act (CJPOA) gives police officers powers to stop and search persons for dangerous instruments or offensive weapons in a specified locality following an authorisation from an officer of Inspector rank or above.

10. Authorisations for the operational use of section 60 CJPOA are routinely considered for the following:

• Gang related violence or disorder
• Operation Blunt 2
• Significant increase in knife point robberies in a defined area
• Operation Neon
• Football related disorder
• Other large scale gathering of people where there is a likelihood of violence

It is recognised that boroughs have different policing issues and requirements and therefore there will be some variance in the use of this power across London. In practice authorities can be pre-planned or spontaneous and will involve a number of considerations for the authorising officer including:

• Documenting the supporting intelligence
• Carrying out a community impact assessment
• Completing a risk assessment
• Ensuring officers are briefed, including consideration as to who should be stopped

11. A specific example of the use of Section 60 CJPOA took place on 24 January 2009 in Newham following an escalation of youth violence which had resulted in the fatal stabbing of a young male. Section 60 was authorised and police conducted a number of Section 60 searches in a specific area in an attempt to identify suspects, recover weapons, prevent further offences and reassure the community. The use of the tactic was well received by community members at a Gold group meeting.

12. It is for the authorising officer to determine the geographical area in which the use of the power is to be authorised, this should not be wider than is believed necessary to prevent the actual or anticipated violence. The officer should take into account:

• The nature and venue of the actual or anticipated incident
• The number of people who may be in the immediate area
• Their access to surrounding areas and the actual or anticipated level of violence

13. Reasonable suspicion is not required under section 60 CJPOA for officers to carry out stop and search.

14. Authorisations under Section 60 require the authorising officer to reasonably believe that:

• Incidents involving serious violence may take place in his/her police area and that an authorisation will be effective in preventing these incidents
• An incident involving serious violence has taken place in his/her police area; a dangerous instrument or offensive weapon used in the incident is being carried in any locality in his/her police area by a person; and it is expedient to give an authorisation under this section to find the instrument or weapon
• Persons are carrying dangerous instruments or offensive weapons without good reason.

15. Legal advice states that Authorising officers must apply their minds and form the necessary reasonable belief based on the position as it is at the time of considering whether to grant an authorisation or continuation rather than, for example, merely relying on an assumption that previous grounds for an authorisation remain applicable. If the statutory criteria are fulfilled over a sustained period, Section 60 authorisations and continuations can be regular and sustained.

16. An authorisation under Section 44 Terrorism Act 2000 may be given by the Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations, for a specified area or place and must be considered expedient for the prevention of acts of terrorism.

17. An authorisation under Section 44 permits any constable in uniform in the area or place specified to stop and search a vehicle or pedestrian for articles of a kind which could be used in connection with terrorism, whether or not the constable has any grounds for suspecting the presence of those articles.

18. An example of the operational use of Section 44 is: The MPS carry out centrally tasked high visibility patrols. For a limited duration a large number of uniform resources perform counter terrorism policing activities at pre-determined terrorist related vulnerable locations. The resources will normally be deployed to at least two separate locations during one tour of duty. During this time officers perform highly visible foot patrols and conduct stop and search where appropriate to deter and disrupt terrorist activities and to reassure the public.

19. Section 43 Terrorism Act 2000 gives police officers the power to stop and search persons providing they reasonably suspect that the person is a terrorist. They may be searched to discover whether or not they have in their possession anything which may constitute evidence that they are a terrorist.

20. The tactic deployed on terrorism searches is that activity is focussed on iconic sites, crowded places, transport hubs, government buildings, tourist attractions, financial centres and airports. Guidance has been given that the profile of people being searched should reflect the profile of the people in that area and that terrorists come from all groups and all walks of life.

21. Officers have been advised to tell the person being stopped that the interaction is part of an operation to reduce the risk of terrorism in London. They should reassure the individual that the stop is a tactic, part of counter-terrorist policing and it is a preventative power proven to help make London safer from a terrorist attack.

22. Operation Blunt 2 is the corporate operational response to serious youth violence by the MPS. The strategic intentions are:

• To stop the killing of young people on the streets of London;
• To reduce serious violence involving young people as victims and offenders;
• To reduce the carrying of weapons by young people on the streets of London;
• To maintain the support of communities and young people for police action to reduce youth violence.

23. The strategic approach is an intelligence-led focus upon dangerous places and dangerous people who represent greater risk of serious youth violence and is intended to create and maintain an environment that is hostile to the routine acquisition, carriage and use of lethal weapons in public space.

24. MPS boroughs are divided into 3 Tiers for the purposes of Operation Blunt 2. Tier 1 boroughs are the main focus for activity and resourcing based on current intelligence. Tier 2 boroughs are monitored closely. Tier 2 and Tier 3 boroughs are required to implement local tactics, with learning from Operation Blunt 2, to reduce youth violence.

25. Stop and search powers, both PACE and Section 60 CJPOA, are employed using an intelligence led approach and officers are briefed to conduct stop and search with sensitivity and respect.

26. Officers are encouraged to talk to people first wherever possible and only make use of a search power when it is justified.

27. There has been a significant amount of time and effort in engaging communities about the knife crime issue. Every borough has taken steps to actively engage in a constructive dialogue with a raft of different communities about knife crime. To date the vast majority of Londoners have been supportive of policing tactics which include the co-ordinated use of screening arches and metal detectors.

28. At the commencement of Operation Blunt 2 every BOCU was required to complete a Community Impact Assessment. An MPS Equality Impact Assessment was also completed.

29. A daily community tension report is completed by each BOCU. This feeds into the weekly community tension report compiled by Communities Together Strategic Engagement Team.

30. An Operation Blunt 2 management meeting takes place daily to discuss issues that have arisen (including any rise in community tension) and to determine/prioritise activities.

31. There has been a 13.7% decrease in knife crime offences across the MPS for the current financial year to date compared to the previous financial year to date (2007/8) .

32. In January 2009 the Op Blunt 2 Silver Co-ordinating Group commissioned a Community Impact Assessment Review. This required a programme of enhanced community contact between 1st and 13th February 2009, including the use of community observers as part of search operations conducted under Op Blunt 2. In addition, the Op Blunt 2 Task Force was made available to key community stakeholders, including MPA members, who wished to observe the delivery of this aspect of the Op Blunt 2.

33. The Op Blunt 2 Task Force was introduced on 21st July 2008, since that date they have conducted 59,384 stops and searches, seizing 483 knives, 17 guns and 97 other weapons.

34. Appendix 1 provides a breakdown of MPS stop/search activity from 1st January 2008 to 31st December 2008. The MPS do not have the facility to record on the stops database whether a stop/search relates to a specific policing operation and therefore are unable to provide an accurate breakdown of stop/search activity relating specifically to OP Blunt 2.

35. Appendix 2 provides a summary of the community comments and concerns highlighted through the recent Op Blunt 2 Community Impact Assessment Review process. All Boroughs have completed formal, documented assessments of the current community support and concerns regarding enhanced search activity deployed under Op Blunt 2. The review indicates:

1. A broad and consistent level of support for enhanced stop and search tactics deployed under OB2 since May 2008;
2. Broad and consistent support from young people, including those from BME communities who appreciate the requirement to remove lethal weapons from the few for the safety of the many;
3. A perception amongst BME groups that police officers are sometimes unprofessional when exercising these powers;
4. The continuing need for courtesy and information on search grounds (including S60) when conducting large numbers of searches involving a similar target group;
5. Concern from a limited number of stakeholders regarding the frequency, and coverage (time and place) of powers under Section 60, Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, 1994. This includes explanations provided to young people regarding this power.

36. A Stop and Search Strategic Committee made of representatives from the Metropolitan Police Authority, Greater London Authority, Central Independent Advisory Groups and community leaders meet with the MPS Stop and Search Lead (TP Commander) on a quarterly basis to discuss MPS Policy, Procedures and Performance.

37. Local Community Monitoring Groups have been established in all London Boroughs, the majority are independent groups and others are sub groups of local Independent Advisory Groups or Community and Police Consultative Groups. These independent groups scrutinise and monitor stop and search/account data for their own boroughs, examine any apparent unfairness in the way local police operate and hold police to account for their actions.

38. Community representatives from each Local Monitoring Group attend a quarterly Community Monitoring Network Forum, facilitated by the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA). The forum monitor London wide use of stop and search/account, identify and promote best practice across London and support Local Monitoring Groups.

39. These groups are provided with up-to-date data on stop and search/account (including disproportionality data) by means of a monthly ‘Stops and Searches Monitoring Report’ which is published on the MPS stop and Search internet website. The website also contains other useful information regarding stop and search.

40. Operation Pennant, a performance framework for MPS stop and search, provides London wide scrutiny of stop and search. It examines performance in a number of key areas namely disproportionality, timeliness, arrest rates and volume. Participation at these performance meetings includes community representatives.

41. A stop and search DVD was produced in June 2008. This was developed by the MPA/MPS as part of an engagement strategy primarily aimed at young people. The audience will be both police and community and focuses on the importance of the powers and the views of persons stopped. A resource pack is also provided to supplement the DVD.

42. The DVD and resource pack are being delivered by Safer Neighbourhood officers, Schools officers and community members in Schools and various community and youth forums. It is used to engage communities and encourage two-way communication, promoting trust and confidence.

43. Key to local monitoring is the Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) of the local use of stops and searches. The EIA measures the adverse and positive impacts of stop and search on communities through a structured and transparent process. This assessment consists of research and consultation into the impact of stop and search on people making up the six equality strands - race, faith, disability, age, gender and sexual orientation. These assessments are fed into the corporate EIA and through to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s).

44. The use of Section 44 Terrorism Act 2000 is currently subject to review. It is important to highlight that the review hopes to refine the tactics in light of the current threat assessment.

45. The purpose of the review is to examine the current use of Section 44 across the MPS, the systems, processes and outcomes. The review will also scrutinise the geographic extent, justification and the application of the MPS Section 44 authority. The review will investigate current work being undertaken both nationally and across the MPS in relation to Section 44 and will link into that work if appropriate. The review is intended to be part of and inform the national debate.

46. There are six strands to the review:

• Location - The geographical extent of the MPS Section 44 authority, the reasons and justification of its tactical use will be examined and scrutinised. The review will look at where the activity is centred and how it is used.
• Legislation & Guidelines - The MPS authority and policies in relation to Section 44 will be reviewed to ensure compliance with legislation, Home Office and national guidelines including contest and the NPIA guidelines. Consideration will be given to the powers afforded by other legislation notably Section 43 with assistance from the Directorate of Legal Services to help clarify any legal points.
• Strategy - The review will consider where Section 44 activity sits within the MPS Counter Terrorism strategy and examine the Section 44 tasking process, training, briefing, intelligence and feedback. The review will also examine the processes for adapting or refining Section 44 activity in relation to changes to threat levels or specific Community Impact Assessments.
• Engagement - views and opinions will be requested from key stakeholders, Guardian Forces (British Transport Police, City of London Police, Ministry of Defence Police), ACPO leads, community representatives, non-governmental organisations, MPS business groups and members of the public. The engagement will focus on areas such as perception, measurement, effectiveness and proportionality of Section 44. With this an equality impact assessment will be considered.
• Future - The strategic ownership of Section 44 policy within the MPS will be considered and whether academic research would assist the debate. Its position in the wider MPS stop and search strategy should be considered. The role for Section 43 and London security should also be assessed as a means to reduce the use of section 44 without reducing security. A high and low discretion and use model for section 44 should be considered to enable the Service and partners to understand the tactics used.
• Outcomes - It is intended that the review will assist in the revision and refreshment of the MPS policy and guidance around the practical use of Section 44 and will influence the future development and delivery of tactics under the authority of Section 44.

47. The review is being overseen by a Consultation Group comprising Commander O’Brien (previously A/Commander Chance), Commander Denholm, NPIA, Martin Davis (MPA), Guardian Forces representatives, Community Monitoring Network, Muslim Safety Forum and Liberty.

48. On 7 May 2009 a report titled ‘Section 44 Terrorism Act 2000 - Tactical Use Review’ was presented to the MPA on behalf of the Commissioner. The report highlights the history and rationale for the tactical review and develops several findings in the form of a suggested model. See Appendix 3.

49. As part of the review it is intended to pilot a refined Section 44 approach on four boroughs; Southwark, Brent, Newham and Tower Hamlets. The pilot will commence May 2009; with full roll out planned for Summer 2009. The four boroughs were chosen because they are a representative sample of boroughs across London while also sharing similar size and demographics that will allow an accurate comparison of results.

50. During the pilot, authority will still be in place for officers to use Section 44 stop and search across the Capital but in pilot boroughs it is intended that it’s use will be limited to pre-identified significant locations and when specific operations have been agreed for specific areas. The list of fixed sites on the pilot boroughs where Section 44 is to be used and the transition to the new tactics will be developed gradually over the pilot period.

51. The guidance for the use of Section 44 by all other boroughs will not change during the pilot. The transition to this new approach will be gradual and will be supported throughout by training and guidance for operational officers and management.

52. It is recognised that a reduction in the number of Section 44 stops may result in section 43 stops increasing. It is important to note that the refined Section 44 approach accepts this possible outcome and use of the power will be recorded and analysed as part of the evaluation phase.

53. Stops under Section 43 will require the same level of justification for suspicion as other stop and search powers.

54. The pilot will be subject of an evaluation to learn any lessons before the roll out of the new tactics. It is designed to examine several aspects including community impact, satisfaction and confidence. There will be specific community engagement in the Boroughs concerned, in particular, Azad Ali (Muslim Safety Forum) in Tower Hamlets and Chris Roffey (Community Monitoring Network Chair) in Newham.

Abbreviations

ACPO

Association of Chief Police Officers

ACSO

Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations

BME

Black and Minority Ethnic

BOCU

Borough Operational Command Unit

BPA

Black Police Association

CIA

Community Impact Assessment

CJPOA

Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994

CO

Central Operations

DLS

Directorate of Legal Services

DPA

Department of Public Affairs

EIA

Equality Impact Assessment

MPS

Metropolitan Police Service

NPIA

National Police Improvement Agency

OB2

Operation Blunt 2

PACE

Police And Criminal Evidence Act 1984

PIB

Performance Information Bureau

S&S

Stop and Search

SO

Specialist Operations

SOP

Standard Operating Procedure

SRC

Security Review Committee

T/AC

Temporary Assistant Commissioner

TACT

Terrorism Act

TP

Territorial Policing

TPHQ

Territorial Policing Headquarters

YLFSC

Young Leaders For Safer Cities

C. Race and equality impact

1. The use of Stop and Search, and Stop and Account in the MPS is directed by Policy and five Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The aim of the MPS Stops and Searches Policy is to ensure that officers comply with the law, acting within their powers and that all Stop and Account and Search powers are used fairly, responsibly, without unlawful discrimination and with respect for people being searched. This Policy and SOPs are published in the public domain and are subject to regular review by the Stops and Searches Team.

2. The MPS publishes on the Internet, the Monitoring Mechanism on a monthly basis. This provides each BOCUs data on stop and search and for the MPS. This allows Community Monitoring Groups to scrutinise the use of stop and search by their local BOCU and to hold them to account, it also allows for comparisons to be made by BOCUs and against the MPS.

3. The MPS and every individual BOCU has completed an Equality Impact Assessment on their use of stop and search.

4. Operation Pennant, a performance framework for stop and search, provides London wide scrutiny of stop and search. Disproportionality and arrest rates are scrutinised down to team and individual officer level.

D. Financial implications

None arising directly from this report.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author(s): Inspector Andy Walker, TPHQ Patrol OCU, MPS

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

Appendix 2

Operation Blunt 2 – Community Impact Assessment (CIA)

CIA Review Summary (stop and search) – February 2009

Assessment – Youth (11-19 years)

Regarding stop and search powers overall, the trend is one of full support from all communities including Muslim, African Caribbean and Asian groups. There are some reservations about the way the powers on occasions are exercised in practice; It is abundantly clear from the data that the powers must be exercised professionally and with ‘”decorum’” if the MPS is to maintain public support. There is a public perception across Boroughs that stop and search powers are necessary to prevent and detect crime.

Negative comments show there is support for the tactic until too many officers become involved or there is insufficient detail provided about the grounds for the search, or the power that is being used. The use of stop and search powers can be seen as a waste of the individual’s time, an invasion of privacy and a personal affront leading to embarrassment. There are some claims that officers are sometimes aggressive and rude when exercising their powers. It has been difficult to test these perceptions; the examples are often hearsay but nevertheless it seems clear that the perception is real.

It is reported that some black youth cannot understand why particular individuals are reported as being continually stopped. There seems to be an assumption that if you have been stopped once and not found in possession of a knife then it is unlikely one will be found on a subsequent occasion.

At a Newham sixth form college (whose students are reported as being 90% from ethnic minority backgrounds) the view from students is that with the current level of stop and search activity you are more likely to get caught and the community is made to feel safer. Similar views can be cited across London’s schools and colleges.

Unstructured interviews show that young people from mixed ethnic backgrounds do not feel intimidated by the use of screening arches; this view seems to be mirrored across the sample Boroughs. One young person interviewed after he had been searched stated that he had been at school with Steven Lewis a recent murder victim. He stated ‘”police need to search everyone to get rid of knives’”.

Some negative criticism of screening arches highlights a perception that on occasions only groups of black young people are ushered through a screening arch, even though other ethnic groups have been standing nearby. There is an emerging view that if police are going to operate an arch all passers by should be invited to pass through in order to avoid any impression that the police are being disproportionately selective.

There are mixed views concerning S.60 Police and Criminal Evidence Act, many comments are fully supportive from all communities, but concerns voiced by minority youth groups who state the power presents an easy opportunity for the police to stereotype when they select people to be searched.

Young people see education as an important preventative measure. Older teenagers suggest that there is a strong case for input into the primary curriculum to warn of the dangers of carrying knives and weapons and the consequences. Similar messages are of value at secondary level; the early teenage years are seen as the high-risk age for young people to become involved in knife crime.

Other miscellaneous themes presented by young people throughout engagement activity have been criticism of the focus on black youth by the media making young people feel ‘singled out’. Re-enforcement of negative stereotypes by the black music scene presenting a poor image of young people is also considered to be an issue.

Assessment - Youth (5-10yrs)

Young children across London seem to be very positive about anti-knife crime messages and pro-active police tactics, teachers agree. It seems clear from the data received that engagement with young children as early as possible is viewed as a good idea by young people of all age groups regardless of background. There are frequent references throughout the research to S.60 Police and Criminal Evidence Act and the lack of knowledge about these powers amongst young people.

Amongst youth of all ages there is a view emerging that knives may be carried for self-protection. Amongst younger children in particular there is often surprise expressed that this is not the case.

Assessment – Communities

Ward panels, residents associations, Neighbourhood Watch, traders and community monitoring networks are without exception in support of police tactics; provided the required standards of fairness and professionalism are applied. Highly visible policing provides much needed re-assurance in the community.

Parents are strongly supportive of screening arch operations, providing much needed visibility and parental re-assurance about the safety of young people attending schools and colleges.

Criticism of the media making young people feel ‘singled out’ is a recurring theme, one specific comment from Croydon Borough highlights continual references in the media to Operation Trident; although this is not directly linked to knife crime, repeated exposure to the terminology only serves to re-enforce a negative image of the black community.

Assessment - Statutory and Third Sector Partners

There seems to be widespread support of Operation Blunt 2 stop and search tactics amongst statutory partners. Attitudes mirror those of young people in respect of the need for officers to be highly professional and courteous if the MPS is going to maintain public confidence.

Those in the voluntary sector working with young people report a drop in violence as a result of increased police activity.

Some have suggested that S.60 PACE is potentially damaging for community relations. A view is emerging that poses a risk to the community desire for quality explanations from officers about their grounds for stopping the individual. S.60 has been cited as a ‘”bad idea’” in this respect because officers are not required to give specific grounds to those who are searched. Coupled with the perception that the public are largely uneducated about S.60 there is a perceived risk of alienation without a proper explanation of the power and the reasons for its authorisation.

There is recognition that there are longer-term causation factors that need to be addressed by Government amongst statutory partners and those in the voluntary sector, police are dealing with the effects.

There is evidence of support from the majority of Head Teachers for the use of screening arches. There is the view that any tactic employed to keep young people safe is of benefit to the community and operations of this nature are a further opportunity for the police to engage with young people.

BPA VOYAGE Programme - Young Leaders for Safer Cities (YLFSC).

The workshops and taught sessions at the ‘Stop and Search’ and ‘Violent Crime’ modules of the YLFSC have provided similar data to that supplied by the boroughs. In the most recent YLFSC events at Camden and Newham the vast majority of young people from the black community support stop and search tactics. There was recognition that the powers exist to protect the community and that their use is easily supported. It is a commonly held belief by many that the sentence tariff for possession of knives and weapons should be much tougher.

The messages concerning the need for professionalism have been very much re-enforced during these sessions and there are repeated calls for the police to be sensitive when actually performing a search. This is because youth from the black communities find stop and search procedures embarrassing; there is a suggestion that negative perceptions of young people from the black community may be re-enforced in the eyes of onlookers and this is a source of real embarrassment to the community as a whole.

Comment was made at the Newham event that the police don’t discriminate ‘”it’s down to patterns and the twenty seven dead points to a black issue between the communities’”.

S.60 PACE was discussed prompting the question for the need for this additional power ‘”More power create more paranoia and makes people feel defenceless’”.

Concerning screening arches, although few had seen them in operation there was sound support for their use in order to make people feel safer and to deter offenders from bringing knives into public spaces. The need to act proportionately when selecting people to be screened was raised; the perception that you are more likely to be screened if you are black seems to be an emerging thought in the minds of young people.

Canvassing opinion from young people about alternative solutions to the knife crime problem has proved a challenge for them. Mentoring and young leaders programmes are seen as a good idea and there are suggestions that pro-active operations such as Operation Blunt 2 could concentrate its efforts in the ‘quieter’ community areas, for example alleyways where it is considered police would have more success.

In facilitated sessions the young people were asked to advise the police on how to go about maintaining the support of black youth. They identified the following as important issues.

• The need to act professionally is critical in order to establish and maintain confidence in young people.
• Put yourself in the shoes of a young black person, empathise.
• Smile, Don’t be rude and give a positive image. Don’t try to be funny.
• Be yourself, Don’t do ‘good cop bad cop’
• Learn young peoples’ slang it may help to get around communication difficulties
• Know your neighbourhood and what’s going on, it will help police to target the right people.
• Spend more time with someone providing explanations before searching.

Appendix 3

A report presented to the Strategic and Operational Policing, 'Section 44 Terrorism Act 2000 - tactical use review' on 7 May 2009

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