Commission welcomes Government’s stop and search reforms

Thursday 01 May 2014 @ 12:20
Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)

Commenting in response to the Government’s announcement of its package of reforms for police use of stop and search powers, Mark Hammond, CEO of the Equality and Human Rights Commission said:

“The Commission has for some time been working successfully with police forces to make their use of stop and search better targeted and more efficient, and to reduce unfair targeting of black and ethnic minority people. We welcome the Home Secretary’s proposed changes and improvements which are very much the approach we have supported.

“Stop and search is an important power. If it is used well, it can help the police protect the public, reduce crime and disorder and improve relations with black and ethnic minority communities. However, if it is misused, as it can be at the moment, it wastes valuable time, police resources and damages community relationships.

“We particularly welcome the proposal to improve training on the use of stop and search and to reduce potentially discriminatory stops. This is critical, and fits with the Commission’s recommendations. We are already in discussions with the National College of Policing to support their training on stop and search. Ongoing scrutiny of stop and search by individual forces and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), is also important to ensure the training is implemented and effective.

“We look forward to working with the Home Office, police forces, HMIC and the College of Policing to take these measures forward and help secure real change at force level.”

Ends

For further information please contact the media office on 0161 829 8102, out of hours 07767 272 818.

Notes to editors

1. The majority of stops and searches in England and Wales are conducted

under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE)

2. Race Disproportionality in Stops and Searches 2011-12, Briefing paper 7 and supporting data can be downloaded at - http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/publications/our-research/briefing-papers/

3. Our previous report Stop and Think is available at -

http://www.equalityhumanrights.co m/key-projects/race-in-britain/stop-and-think/

4. Stop and Think Again is available at -http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/key-projects/race-in-britain/stop-and-think- again

Channel website: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en

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