22 Jan 2014

Stop and search: counterproductive, unreliable and a waste of money?

Stop and search has always been controversial.

Often abused or discriminatory, it’s seen by some as a waste of time, yet by others as a crucial tactic in the fight against crime.

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But last year Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC)  found that 27 per cent  of 1.2 million stop and searches in one year were unlawful, and the Home Secretary has set about trying to put that right.

Today in the Commons the prime minister said that review is still ongoing, and no decisions have been taken.

Both he and the home secretary are reportedly at odds over how to curb these powers. Theresa May wants to penalise officers who misuse them. She would like to bring in legislation, but Mr Cameron is yet to be convinced that it’s necessary, not to mention possible in the parliamentary time available.

There’s talk of legislation to limit police use, but there are concerns that could be portrayed as the Government being soft on crime.

An HMIC survey found 80 per cent of the public believe that the use of stop and search powers helps the police to catch criminals, and over half that its use makes them feel safer.

But many also believe they’re used in an unfair and discriminatory way, cause resentment, and undermine public trust.

The problem also lies in the low arrest rates resulting from stop and searches.

The average is 9 per cent for what’s termed section one stops, which are done on suspicion of possession of drugs and/or stolen goods.

But only 3 per cent of stops when police suspect the carrying of offensive weapons, result in an arrest.

Most officers will argue that, however infrequent, each arrest results in one less potential “victim of crime”.

But given the 20 per cent cuts to police budgets, the effectiveness of these powers must now be justified on economic grounds too.

HMIC estimates the time taken for a stop and search encounter is 15 minutes. The hourly rate of a four-year qualified police officer is £15, so the annual total of 1.2m stop and searches equates to a cost of £3.7m per year.

If a quarter are unlawful, then according to the HMIC’s calculations, that amounts to a waste of at least £925,000 of public money.

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