Stop and search unfairly' targets ethnic minorities, damning report finds

20 April 2022, 12:49 | Updated: 20 April 2022, 14:52

An IOPC review found black people were seven times more likely to be stopped and searched than white people
An IOPC review found black people were seven times more likely to be stopped and searched than white people. Picture: Alamy

By Patrick Grafton-Green

The use of stop and search powers in England and Wales must be overhauled and the disproportionate impact on ethnic minority groups addressed, a watchdog has said.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

An Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) review found, in the year to March 2021, black people were seven times more likely to be stopped and searched than white people.

Asian people were two-and-a-half times more likely.

The report included one case study of a black boy who was searched more than 60 times between the ages of 14 and 16, sometimes more than once in the same day.

READ MORE: Boris 'orders Tories to block new Partygate probe' as he defies calls to quit

READ MORE: Workers who stayed behind at Ukraine zoo to help animals 'shot dead by Russians'

IOPC lead on discrimination Sal Naseem called on police chief to "break the cycle".

"It cannot be underestimated how traumatic a stop and search encounter can be on an individual," he said.

"If carried out insensitively, a person can be left feeling humiliated and victimised."

The IOPC said force, in particular handcuffs, must not be used as standard during searches.

It highlighted an example where a 12-year-old boy with a plaster cast on one arm was handcuffed while out running an errand for his mother.

The child was restrained within 20 seconds of the officer leaving his patrol car.

Racism in the police 'a real problem' says Shabnam Chaudhri

Mr Naseem added that these incidents can be the "first interaction" some young people have with police and "if it is a negative one, this can have a lasting impact on that person and the trust they put in the police".

The IOPC also called on police chiefs to "reduce their officers' reliance on the smell of cannabis alone" when deciding whether to carry out a search.

It said the Home Office should review what are considered reasonable grounds for suspicion for cannabis possession, and whether any changes are needed to police powers.

Current guidelines say it is not good practice for an officer to rely on one factor alone when deciding whether to search someone, particularly if it is difficult to attribute to one person.

The IOPC said: "In some of our investigations, the smell of cannabis has either formed the sole grounds given for a stop and search, or it has been the main reason for suspicion alongside either weak, non-specific concerns about behaviour, or vague intelligence relating to geographical location.

"These examples reinforce an often-held perception that the smell of cannabis is being used as an excuse to conduct a stop and search, especially when no cannabis is then found on the individual."

Nick Ferrari absolutely repulsed by Met Police's child strip search

Its recommendations included:

  • The National Police Chiefs' Council and the College of Policing draw up new guidelines to stop people from ethnic minorities being searched or subject to use of force "because of decision-making based upon assumptions, stereotypes and racial bias"
  • That the two bodies and the Home Office commission research into trauma caused by the incorrect use of stop and search
  • The ethnicity and gender of people subject to traffic stops should be recorded to see if the powers are disproportionately used against certain groups
  • Officers' individual stop and search records should be regularly reviewed
  • Police chiefs should make sure their officers know they are obliged to challenge inappropriate behaviour by colleagues during stop and searches.

Police in England and Wales carried out 695,009 stop and searches in the year to March 2021, 77 per cent of which resulted in no further action.

Although forces often cite the powers as useful for taking weapons off the streets, 478,576 of the searches were for drugs, up 36 per cent on the previous year.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Shops are legally selling addictive nicotine pouches to children just weeks after single-use vapes were banned in an effort to cut their use among young people, Trading Standards has warned.

Shops legally selling addictive nicotine pouches to children weeks after single-use vapes banned

It is understood Deborah Turness made the comments when she was asked about the documentary during a routine staff meeting.

BBC News chief said members of Hamas government and militants are not the same amid documentary row

At some O2 stores, a security guard now opens the door for customers in response to a "growing number of thefts".

Tomorrow’s high street? Locked doors and security crackdowns as retailers fight shoplifting surge

Four boys and four girls, including one set of identical twins, have been delivered and are all doing well following treatment by a team in Newcastle, who pioneered the technique.

Eight babies born in the UK thanks to new IVF technique using DNA from three people to prevent devastating disease

Ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, 39, had surgery after he broke his left leg during a match against Birmingham City in April 2013.

Ex-Premier League footballer sues doctor for £7m after ‘unnecessary’ surgery ‘brought career to an end’

Shocking footage showed the stage at the iconic European dance festival in Boom, Belgium, engulfed in flames on Wednesday afternoon

Tomorrowland main stage destroyed by fire hours before festival start

The sci-fi juggernaut, which follows a group of friends who tackle supernatural forces in Indiana, debuted in 2016 and has gripped audiences across four seasons so far.

Tears and terror: First trailer drops for final season of Stranger Things

Audun Groenvold has died after a lightning strike.

Norwegian Olympic ski cross medalist Audun Groenvold dies after lightning strike

Companies House website viewed on an Ipad

11,500 companies struck off Companies House register after crackdown

Tributes have been paid to Love Actually and EastEnders star Jo Bacon.

Tributes pour in for Eastenders and Love Actually star following death aged 72

The TV chef, 59, broke his silence on Tuesday night after the show's producers Banijay UK confirmed his contract will not be renewed.

John Torode to 'take legal action' against BBC after MasterChef axing amid racism claim in Gregg Wallace report

Exclusive
All four suspended MPs voted against the bill.

Suspended Labour MP 'can't promise not to rebel again' after Keir Starmer removes whip from four backbenchers

The Obamas finally set the record straight on their marriage.

'We've had some really hard times': Barack and Michelle Obama finally address divorce rumours in shock interview

Man 38, lay dead in council toilet for six days before being found

Body of 'gentle giant', 38, lay undiscovered in council toilet for six days before he was found

Novak Djokovic (SRB) [6] during his Gentlemen's Singles Semi-Final match against Jannik Sinner (ITA)

Djokovic states aim to be oldest ever Wimbledon winner

London Southend Airport has partially reopened three days after a fatal plane crash.

London Southend Airport to partially reopen three days after deadly plane crash