Feedback from Police Stop and Search conference

Report: 13
Date: 19 April 2001
By: Clerk

Summary

On 23 March 2001, the MPA in consultation with the MPS, hosted a conference to consult with its communities on Recommendation 61 of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report. Since the event, progress has been made in organising a number of smaller pan-London and locally based consultation events. This report is presented to inform members of the progress made and the plans that are underway for further consultation.

A. Recommendations

1. That the Authority note the Association of Police Authorities (APA) deadline for the receipt of its consultation.
2. That the Members note the preparation of the draft consultation strategy and agree that the detailed proposals be referred to the CDO Committee for further consideration, as appropriate.
3. That the finalised draft written response to the APA be signed off by the CDO Committee on 22 May 2001 and be referred to the Com-Ordination and Urgency Committee (31 May 2001) prior to being submitted to the APA. This will be made available to all MPA Members and presented to the next full Authority meeting on 14 June 2001.
4. That the Chair of the Authority formally write to those groups and voluntary organisations that have assisted the Authority in progressing its consultation.

B. Supporting information

Background

1. In February 2001, officers were informed by the APA of the Home Secretary's request for all police authorities in England and Wales to 'consult their communities' on Recommendation 61 of the Report into the Death of Stephen Lawrence. The recommendation is:

The Home Secretary, in consultation with police services, should ensure that a record is made by police officers of all "stops" and "stops and searches" made under any legislative provision (not just the Police and Criminal Evidence Act). Non-statutory or so-called voluntary searches must also be recorded.

The record is to include the reason for the stop, the outcome and the self defined ethnic identity of the person stopped. A copy of the record shall be given to the person stopped.

2. As part of its research programme, the Home Office undertook a study of the public view on the Lawrence Recommendation 61. This only involved a limited number of police forces and individuals.

3. The Lawrence Steering Group felt that a much wider view of public opinion was needed and therefore asked all police authorities to be involved in the exercise.

4. The original deadline for the consultation was the end of March 2001. The MPA had sought an extension to this date, but was unsuccessful. The conference therefore had to be arranged at very short notice. The date of 23 March was agreed following consultation with the Chair, Deputy Chair, Peter Herbert (who was assigned the lead responsibility for the event), and the Clerk. The consultation period has subsequently been extended to the end of May 2001.

5. The conference was supported by a range of organisations including the Society of Black Lawyers, the Black Londoners Forum, the 1990 Trust and others who provided speakers, facilitators, note-takers and other assistance at no cost to the MPA. The Chair, the Deputy Commissioner and Peter Herbert gave the key note addresses, and other officers from the MPS took part.

6. Probably the most challenging element of the event was the inclusion of a scenario of a police stop and stop and search to kick off discussion of the complex issues by a range of interested – and interesting – contributors. The preparation of this scenario did give rise to some concerns. But in the event, the scenario proved to have been a useful part of the discussion.

Feedback from the conference

7. Overall, the comments from the wide spectrum of delegates were extremely positive and as a result of this event, a number of groups and organisations have since agreed to organise local consultation meetings on behalf of the Authority.

Further consultation events and meetings

8. A draft consultation strategy is in preparation, following extensive discussion by officers with a very wide range of groups and agencies. It involves a mix of paper and email questionnaires, with web-based distribution organised by groups themselves, presentations and face to face discussions with a range of organisations, including police groups, PCCGs singly and pan London, faith groups and many others and the distribution of leaflets, posters etc linked to the "Stop and Search – Know your rights" campaign. Organisations co-operating in the questionnaire exercise include Youth Offending Teens, the Sikh in London Organisation the National Union of Students and the Black London Forum. Meetings are planned to discuss the feasibility and cost implications of conducting street consultation generally and targeted at specific groups, such as football supporters.

9. The draft strategy is a dynamic document that changes daily. A copy of the most recent version is being circulated to members separately for comments and suggestions. CDO will continue to oversee the exercise. As times and dates are fixed for the presentations and discussion groups details will be sent to all members as invitations to take part.

10. Officers are also actively considering the scope to use some of these encounters, including the web-based and free post questionnaire exercises, to consult more widely to inform the policing plan priorities for 2002/03.

Consultation questionnaire

11. In addition to comments from the MPS, the GLA Research Unit has made extensive comments and have proposed amendments to the wording of the questionnaire. These have been largely incorporated. The questionnaire is attached at Appendix 1.

12. A further useful suggestion is that the questionnaire should have a free post address to encourage the rate of return. This is in the progress of being finalised with the Post Office at a cost of £60 per year for a Royal Mail freepost licence, to the MPA plus .5 pence for every questionnaire returned. This freepost service will be available for other public consultation throughout the year.

Draft MPA response to APA

13. The draft report outlining the MPA response to the consultation has to be submitted to the APA early June 2001. The following process is proposed for approving the final report:

• first draft report to CDO Committee Meeting 22 May;
• revised copy to CCU Committee Meeting 31 March and circulated to all MPA Members for information;
• full Authority, for information 14 June 2001.

C. Financial implications

The expenditure for the 23 March event totalled £3,791.70 inclusive of expenses for presenters and actors. The approximate cost for further events is likely to be in the region of £5,000 excluding the consultation exercise by MORI that will be subject to members' approval.

D. Background papers

None.

E. Contact details

The author of this report is Julia Smith, MPA.

For information contact:

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

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