MPS Stop and Search ethnicity data

Report: 15
Date: 9 January 2003
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report provides borough stop and search data for the MPS broken down by ethnicity, and provides trend information over time. This report also provides an overview of the work being carried out through the MPS Fair Practice Monitoring Group to look at exception reporting at borough level.

A. Recommendation

Members are asked to note the contents of this report.

B. Supporting information

Introduction

1. This paper has been prepared following the request for a report which presents stop and search data at borough level and provides proportions by ethnicity. The request also asks for trend data by borough since 2000/01 and a proposal for a threshold for exception reporting to EODB.

Borough Stop and Search data by ethnicity

2. The table at Appendix 1(1) provides the borough stop and search data displayed to show the proportion of stop and searches on each borough by ethnic groups. Whilst data has not been presented per 1000 resident population, Appendix 1(2) provides resident population proportions by ethnicity for reference purposes.

3. Appendix 2 provides the changes over time on each borough since 2000/01, as requested. The table provides the percentage increase / decrease in the number of stop/searches broken down by ethnicity between the 2000/01 and 2001/02 planning years (April – March) and between April – September 2001 and April – September 2002.

4. Note that this appendix should be looked at in conjunction with Appendix 1(1), since some of the large percentage changes on the table relate to relatively small numbers. (For example, the highest percentage change is a 275% increase in the number of Asian people stop searched at Havering between 2000/01 and 2001/02 - this is a numerical increase of 90 stop/searches). For this reason percentage changes for people of other ethnicity (where numbers are lower) have not been shown.

Exception reporting to EODB

5. The MPS Fair Practice Monitoring Group is developing a central monitoring and analysis function that will look at fair practice monitoring across a range of areas, including stop and search. As part of the function, ways of presenting borough exception reporting are being discussed. It is suggested that, rather than proposing a separate exception reporting system to the EODB based on the appendices above, the Committee consider the system that is being developed through the Fair Practice Monitoring Group. The Fair Practice Monitoring Group next meets on 6 January, and the EODB will be updated with the progress made at that meeting.

6. Whilst changes in levels of stop/search over time do need to be considered as part of a mechanism to present exception reporting, it is proposed that the Fair Practice Monitoring Group and EODB consider a range of indicators that might include:

• Comparison between stop and search and suspect profiles
• Arrest rates
• The reasons for stop search and reasons for arrest (and whether the reasons are the same or different)
• Stop and search per 1000 population (whilst resident population does not reflect the street population available for stop and search, this could be considered as part of a range of data used for exception reporting).

7. It is expected that any system for exception reporting will be further developed over time, for example to include additional information that becomes available from the introduction of the new stop and search database in 2002/03. In addition, any range of measures would need to be updated to take into account future research to identify a methodology for defining the population against which police activity can be measured.

C. Equality and diversity implications

As mentioned at paragraph 5, the development of exception reporting across a range of data will allow for more informed analysis of stop and search.

D. Financial implications

None arising from this paper.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Lesley Nichols, DCC2(4) - Corporate Performance Analysis Unit, MPS.

For more information contact:

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

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