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Stop and search overhaul planned by Met | Stop and search overhaul planned by Met |
(about 11 hours later) | |
The Metropolitan Police commissioner has ordered a radical overhaul of stop and search policing in London. | The Metropolitan Police commissioner has ordered a radical overhaul of stop and search policing in London. |
During a question and answer session, Bernard Hogan-Howe admitted that the tactic had not always been used professionally. | During a question and answer session, Bernard Hogan-Howe admitted that the tactic had not always been used professionally. |
The BBC understands there will be new limits on issuing section 60 orders - which allow searches without suspicion. | The BBC understands there will be new limits on issuing section 60 orders - which allow searches without suspicion. |
But officers defended their right to use the tactic, which they say helps target drug and knife crime. | But officers defended their right to use the tactic, which they say helps target drug and knife crime. |
"It is a complex area, but by training and education we can help our officers to deal with it. | "It is a complex area, but by training and education we can help our officers to deal with it. |
"One, to target searches properly. | "One, to target searches properly. |
"Number two, when we do do it, even if we end up with resistance, we come out of that better if we remain professional, cool and calm," said Mr Hogan-Howe. | "Number two, when we do do it, even if we end up with resistance, we come out of that better if we remain professional, cool and calm," said Mr Hogan-Howe. |
"Sometimes we are not always able to manage that," he said. | "Sometimes we are not always able to manage that," he said. |
Tensions caused by stop and search were highlighted 13 years ago in the Macpherson report, which looked into how the Met failed to properly investigate the murder of Stephen Lawrence. | Tensions caused by stop and search were highlighted 13 years ago in the Macpherson report, which looked into how the Met failed to properly investigate the murder of Stephen Lawrence. |
Last year, Ann Juliette Roberts, 37, of Upper Edmonton, north London, won permission to bring a landmark challenge over the legality of stop and search powers used by police to tackle knife and gang crime. | |
Her lawyers said statistical evidence showed that a black person was more than nine times more likely to be searched than a white person. | |
A group of black teenagers in Brixton said their experience of stop and search was negative. | A group of black teenagers in Brixton said their experience of stop and search was negative. |
One said: "If they approach us in a calmer way we would feel safer. But they come aggressive and grab you up against a wall." | One said: "If they approach us in a calmer way we would feel safer. But they come aggressive and grab you up against a wall." |
Another said: "All of us are just criminals [in their eyes]." | Another said: "All of us are just criminals [in their eyes]." |
Terance Smith, a youth worker in Lambeth, south London, said: "No-one will want to aspire to work for them, interact with them. | Terance Smith, a youth worker in Lambeth, south London, said: "No-one will want to aspire to work for them, interact with them. |
"It's got so bad now they [young black men] won't even talk to them about crimes, serious crimes. | "It's got so bad now they [young black men] won't even talk to them about crimes, serious crimes. |
"A majority of the time it's stop and search [which is the problem]." | "A majority of the time it's stop and search [which is the problem]." |
Ch Supt BJ Harrington said: "What we are already doing is making sure that officers are properly directed, they're supervised, they understand what they need to do. | Ch Supt BJ Harrington said: "What we are already doing is making sure that officers are properly directed, they're supervised, they understand what they need to do. |
"Stop and search is important. They just need to do it well." | "Stop and search is important. They just need to do it well." |