Progress report on MPA Stop and Search Scrutiny

Report: 09
Date: 17 July 2003
By: Clerk

Summary

This report provides an update on the progress of the MPA stop and search scrutiny.

A. Recommendations

That the Board note the contents of this report.

B. Supporting information

1. As part of the responsibilities of the Equal Opportunities and Diversity Board’s (EODB) to scrutinise areas of police performance that has a specific impact on diversity issues, the MPA approved the need for a scrutiny to be undertaken to address the issue of disproportionality of stop and search rates.

2. As the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry identified, it is an issue that has led to the corrosion of trust and confidence between minority ethnic populations and the police, and concluded that “the need to establish trust between minority ethnic communities and the police is paramount”.

3. Two factors are deemed to particularly undermine the confidence of minority communities with policing in London. The first is that Black, minority and ethnic people in London are more at risk than Whites in experiencing police stops and searches. According to MPS data, the stop and search ratios of blacks in London increased by 30% between the years 2000/01 and 2001/02, for Asian people by 41%, while for Whites it only increased by eight percent. In other words not withstanding the recommendations of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry report, the ratios of disproportionality have been increasing.

4. The second factor is the widely held perception of disrespectful attitudes and behaviours shown by police officers in the process of stopping and searching people of black, minority and ethnic backgrounds.

5. The scrutiny panel is focussing its attention on five key areas:

• Whether, and in what ways, race might impact upon MPS practice resulting in the disproportionality of black, minority, ethnic people in stop and search rates;
• The use of stop and search data;
• The cost effectiveness of stop and search both in terms of positive outcomes and reported negative impact;
• Whether there exists differential levels of criminality within different sectors of the population; and
• The range of activities that could inform good practice in this area.

6. The Scrutiny Panel comprises both MPA Members and external members. MPA members are Cecile Wright (Panel Chair), Lynne Featherstone (Deputy Chair), Toby Harris, Peter Herbert, R. David Muir and Eric Ollerenshaw. External members are John Grieve (former Head of the Diversity Directorate at the MPS), Anthea Smith (Chair of Southwark Community Police Consultative Group), Reverend Nims Obunge (Haringey Peace Alliance), and Brian McCarthy (Action Group for Irish Youth).

7. The first evidence hearing was held on June 20. Some of the themes emerging from this first session included:

• Explanatory factors offered for contributing to disproportionality e.g. “street” population or “night population”;
• Purposes and effectiveness of stop and search;
• Role of intelligence briefings and supervision in providing adequate checks and balances;
• Policy and guidelines on stop and search (Police Notice 12/01) needing to be reviewed;
• Adequacy of training;
• Impact of police priority setting on police stop and search rates; and
• Community police dialogue at the local level.

The second and third sessions will be held on 10 and 18 July 2003. Each hearing will maintain a thematic focus as well as build a chronological process: that is, a process that is driving towards focussed solutions to the five specific issues in the Panel’s terms of reference.

8. It was therefore important for the first set of sessions to obtain the information and evidence on the present state of affairs and the initiatives being taken by the MPS and others.

9. The first sessions therefore have an MPS focus: from Commander Broadhurst and Chief Inspector Dalley from New Scotland Yard on 20 June to two Borough Commanders on 10 July, and a group of “front line” constables on 18 July .

10. In addition other relevant agencies such as the Home Office, the Commission for Racial Equality, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, etc are being asked to give evidence on their initiatives and research findings. The body of knowledge accrued from these sources will help to provide the foundation for a causal analysis of the factors leading to disproportionality.

11. The second phase and purpose of the evidentiary hearing sessions will focus on the consequences and impact of disproportionality. Representations from youth groups will be appearing at the July 18th session. In addition, a mass mailing of over 1500 community and voluntary groups has been undertaken inviting their participation, either in person or in the form of written submissions. Witnesses therefore will be drawn primarily from the Black, minority ethnic and other victim communities.

12. A press release has been prepared and details of the scrutiny are posted on the MPA website. All the scrutiny meetings will be open to public attendance. Further communications strategies are being developed.

13. Further evidentiary hearing sessions will be held up to November, with a final report expected to be completed by the end of 2003.

C. Equality and diversity implications

The Scrutiny Panel will contribute significantly to the MPA’s efforts in recommending approaches to stop and search that will reduce the perceptions of unfair and discriminatory police practice and increase the level of trust and confidence in the police by the Black, minority and ethnic communities.

D. Financial implications

There are no financial implications to this report.

E. Background papers

None.

F. Contact details

Report author: Tim Rees, MPA

For more information contact:

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

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback