Stop and Account: Londerners make their voice heard in the debate

21/11
11 May 2011

At a joint Metropolitan Police Authority/Metropolitan Police Service (MPA/MPS) community consultation event on Wednesday 11 May, members of the public and young Londoners gathered at City Hall to contribute to the debate about whether stop and account should continue to be recorded in London.

Attendees participated in thought provoking discussions and two panels of experts, including representatives from youth groups and community radio, answered searching questions about the operational value of stop and account and its perceived drawbacks.

This was an important opportunity for Londoners, particularly young people, to share their views about whether stop and account should continue to be recorded in the capital.

MPA chair Kit Malthouse, said

"It’s absolutely vital we understand community concerns to inform the decision about whether the Met keeps or discontinues the recording of stop and account in London. Today’s event was part of an ongoing process of community consultation, which started in March, and aims to ensure we have a better conversation with London's communities on an important issue for community confidence.

“Today lived up to its promise and brought people together from a wide range of communities and experiences, including many young people who are particularly affected by this issue. What we've heard will be added to the views of the more than 800 people who have already participated in our online consultation survey and this will inform the decision on whether or not to retain stop and account in the capital.”

The MPA and MPS want to gather the views of as many members of London's communities as possible and there is still time to take part and have your say through the online survey, at www.mpa.gov.uk, which will be open until 8 June 2011.

There will be further opportunity to continue the debate when MPA member Cindy Butts and MPS Commander Tony Eastaugh participate in a radio phone-show hosted by Reprezent FM Youth Radio (South London) 5 – 6pm on Tuesday 17 May 2011, at 107.3 FM and streamlined live on www.reprezent.org.uk

Notes to Editors

1. Panel members: Reshard Auladin (MPA deputy chair) Doreen Lawrence (Stephen Lawrence Trust) Dr Richard Stone (Stephen Lawrence Inquiry) Commander Tony Eastaugh (MPS lead for Stop and Search) Professor Ben Bowling (King’s College London) and Mike Ainsworth (National Policing Improvement Agency).

2. Youth panel members: Sarah Edoo (Youth Engagement Panel) Akeem Edwards (Chair Brent Stop and Search Community Monitoring Group)  Kanjay Ibrahim Sesay (NUS Black Students Officer) Lara Cranshaw (Catch 21) Tariq Chowdhury (Independent film maker) Danni Briggs (Independent Academic Research Studies) and Tarek Chaudhury (Reprezent FM Youth Radio).

3. At present in London a stop and account is recorded when a police officer or Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) stops a person and asks them to explain why they are in a particular place, why they are carrying something or why they are behaving in a particular way. 

The time, date and place where the stop happened are recorded and a copy of the record given to the person stopped. The person stopped does not need to give their name or address but their ethnic background is recorded. In return the officer provides a receipt or a business card so the person stopped knows the identity of the police officer.

4. The government has proposed that recording stop and account should stop, and no receipt should be given. Changes were made to stop and account in the Crime and Security Act 2010.  The Home Office legislation gave police services the option not to record stop and account to reduce the paper work police officers are required to complete. Some police forces in England and Wales have already made the decision to discontinue recording stop and account.

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