Police using ‘stop and search’ powers more fairly, says equality watchdog

Police forces are being fairer and more efficient in their use of controversial stop and search powers, the Government’s equality watchdog has found.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) found that the five forces covered by its Stop and Think Again study reduced their use of stop and search powers without compromising crime reduction.

The watchdog’s report also reveals that the forces concerned have seen reductions of up to 50 per cent in overall use and a fall for some in the disproportionate use against ethnic minorities.

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The study was a follow-up to the commission’s report Stop and Think, published in 2010, which threatened police forces with legal action after it found black and Asian Britons were still being unfairly targeted for stop and searches.

The five forces covered by the report were Dorset Police, Leicestershire Constabulary, Thames Valley Police, West Midlands Police and the Metropolitan Police.

EHRC chief executive Mark Hammond said: “Stop and search is a necessary and useful power.

“If it is used proportionally and intelligently the police can protect the public, reduce crime and disorder and improve relations with black and ethnic minority groups.

“There is no evidence to suggest that targeting black and Asian people disproportionately reduces crime.”

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