‘Stop and Search’ levels fall

Finally, the proof!

Common sense told anyone who would listen that if you target criminals with intelligence led policing, and not round up almost everyone who you think looks like a criminal, two things will transpire: You can target better your limited resources on actually catching criminals, and you no longer alienate a generation of young Black men for no good reason.

Today’s report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission –EHRC- highlight the startling fact Police use of Stop and Search, has been cut by 50% by five of the worst offending forces, including London and the West Midlands, moreover, these actions have not negatively affected crime rates.

This whole area is of particularly attention to me because back in 2009 when I joined the EHRC as a Commissioner with responsibility for ‘race’, this was the first big project I had to lead on. The five Police forces that we had targeted back then, had ‘Stop and Search’ numbers which we found difficult to accept in the normal day to day procedure of policing. We concluded that if these forces where to avoid having any further legal action taken against them they should work with the Commission and find ways to practice policing that does not use stereotyping, and racial profiling.

During that time few politicians and media outlets believed that our suggested methods could work. Shock jocks such as Nick Ferrari at LBC used the cliché argument that ‘political correctness’ will stop the police from doing their valiant job, adding that most street crime is done by Black kids so what are they supposed to do?

The EHRC and activists had always argued that the Black community, like wider society want to the police to catch criminals, after all we are victims of crime too. But we strongly argued, we want the police to do their home work, find the intelligence, and target the tiny minority who are wrecking havoc in some neighborhoods.

Convincing some senior politicians was a tall order. I remember a particular tense meeting with the Commission and the then Minster of Policing Nick Herbert. He sat in his plush office with his shirt casually unbuttoned leaning back on his chair, lecturing myself, John Wadham Head of Law, and Brenda Parks, to:

‘Get off the backs of our police force.’ He added, ‘The evidence shows that there are high crime hotspots and that’s where we will focus our energy and resources. ‘ Then with a chilling threat he said, ‘ if you don’t we’ll –the Government-will cause you-the Commission- trouble.’

There was a collective jaw dropping moment, but quick as flash I reminded the Minister that by statute we were an independent body which he should respect. Moreover, I added crime hotspots can become a self –fulfilling prophecy. For example, if the police raided Mayfair, and Chelsea bars and nightclubs, no doubt these areas would rise in the number of arrest for class A drugs.

Afterwards John Wadham pointed out the irony of the meeting: unlike the Minster rigid views, the Commission had been in talks with senior police officers who understood our drive and were determined to bring the ‘Stop and Search’ figures down. Thank fully they won the day and today we are seeing those results.

We must not get too carried away with these figures. The data still shows that tens of thousands of Black men are still be disproportionately stopped, searched and harassed for going about their law abiding business. Thankfully, the numbers are falling but let’s just hope this trend continues.

Simon Woolley