Political correctness must not stifle stop and search debate, says MPA Chair

25/02
14 March 2002

The current debate on the greater use of police stop and search powers must not falter because people are afraid to discuss the issue openly and honestly, Toby Harris, Chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority said today.

“We must speak truthfully about the need to allow police to use every reasonable means available to them to tackle the growing menace of violent street and gun crime.

“The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report was a watershed for policing which is now performed in a way that is much more sensitive and responsive to the needs of all sections of our diverse communities.

“But we have to acknowledge that the balance has probably tipped too far the other way, which has resulted in police being reluctant to use stop and search powers for fear of accusations of racism or harassment, even where they suspect wrong-doing.

“This is especially true when it comes to using the powers in areas where there is a large black or Asian community, the very communities suffering the most from street crime. 

“The effect has been to hamper police in tackling gun and drug crime and violent robbery. As Mike Best, the editor of The Voice newspaper, said a few days ago, it is time to increase the use of stop and search once more to bring down crime on our streets and in our neighbourhoods.

“However, the use of these powers can only be justified if they are used as part of a larger, intelligence-led operation, targeting specific problems such as black-on-black gun crime and drug dealing. Indiscriminate use of stop and search and random and disproportionate stopping of black and Asian people remains totally unacceptable. 

“To achieve the full support of all of our communities, the Met has to demonstrate that the powers are used properly and fairly, and achieve a much higher proportion of arrests than in the past.

“And we are anxious that the new requirement to record all stops, if fully implemented, balances the needs of the individual with the needs of police to avoid further time-consuming form filling and report filing. Anything that keeps police officers off of the streets is to be avoided. People have demanded higher visibility policing in their boroughs and that is what we must have.”

Notes to editors

Toby Harris made his comments today during a speech to a conference on race equality schemes in the criminal justice system held in Russell Square, London.

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