Black people more likely to be strip-searched

According to an official report published by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), “police forces are at considerable risk of discriminatory strip-searching practices.”

The report, commissioned last year by the home secretary, Theresa May, suggests a disproportionate number of people of African-Caribbean descent are held in police-cells and subject to strip-searches. Most notably, the report concluded police forces “did not have sufficient data and other information to demonstrate to the communities they service that all people who come into contact with the police are treated fairly and safely.”

The report findings suggest that not only are people of African-Caribbean descent disproportionally represented in the custody population, they are more likely to be strip-searched. According to the figures, people of African-Caribbean descent make up 9% of those detained in police custody and 17% of those strip-searched, a percentage much higher compared to other ethnic groups.

According to the report, “inspectors saw that arresting officers and custody staff usually searched detainees in a respectful, sensitive and proportionate manner.” However, when researching detainee’s thoughts on being strip-searched, those interviewed found the experience degrading or humiliating. Some that were interviewed did not always agree strip-searches were justified and others agreed to remove their clothing in order to avoid having it be forcibly removed by police officers and staff.

A report released in 2013, a decade after the Macpherson inquiry, found persons of ethnic minority background were subject to one-and-a-half million more stop and searches during those 10 years than were whites. Alongside the new report’s findings, it is suggested people from BME are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system.

There is no denying disproportionality as a major issue for members of BME communities. The issue continues to be a matter of great concern, especially in the political sphere.

At OBV, we believe in our right to highlight this issue and encourage others to take a stand against these discriminatory practices through civic engagement. Through voting, our concerns can be heard and changes to the system may be instated.

Andi Guede