More to do to end stop and search disparity
Official Government statistics on police powers and stop and search have been released today, Thursday 27 October.
The statistics for year ending 31 March 2022 show a slight increase in outcomes following stop and search and a decrease in race disparity.
The outcomes linked to the reason for the stop and search is at 23% compared to 20% last year. There was also a slight rise in the arrest rate, from 11% to 13%.
The statistics also showed that individuals from a black or black British background were searched at a rate 6.2 times higher than that of those from a white ethnic group (compared with 7.0 times in the previous year); Individuals identifying as Asian or Asian British were searched at a rate 2.1 times that of those from a white ethnic group (compared with 2.4 in the previous year). Individuals identifying as mixed ethnicity were searched at a rate 2.3 times that of those from a white ethnic group (compared with 2.4 in the previous year).
APCC Leads for Equality, Diversity and Human Rights, Alison Lowe OBE and John Campion, said: “It is positive to see a slight increase in the arrest rate for those stopped and searched. This suggests that the power is being used in a more targeted way.
“Whilst there has been a decrease in disparity, the statistics show that people from ethnic minority communities are still more likely to be stopped and searched than those who are white. There is still much more to be done to address the race disparity around stop and search and we are committed to holding forces to account for their use of these powers at a local level.
“As Police and Crime Commissioners and Deputy Mayors we are committed to working with Chief Constables and partners to drive down disparities in the use of police powers. Nationally, we will continue our work with the Home Office on delivering the actions in the Government’s Inclusive Britain plan to improve community scrutiny at the local level.”
You can read the full report here.