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| Stop and search: home secretary launches consultation on police powers | Stop and search: home secretary launches consultation on police powers |
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| The home secretary, Theresa May, has launched a six-week consultation over the future of police stop-and-search powers after telling MPs that black people were still seven times more likely to be searched on the street than white people. | The home secretary, Theresa May, has launched a six-week consultation over the future of police stop-and-search powers after telling MPs that black people were still seven times more likely to be searched on the street than white people. |
| "We've all been told stories by constituents and members of the public about what it's like to be a young, law-abiding black man who has been stopped and searched by the police on more than one occasion," the home secretary told MPs. | "We've all been told stories by constituents and members of the public about what it's like to be a young, law-abiding black man who has been stopped and searched by the police on more than one occasion," the home secretary told MPs. |
| "If anybody thinks that it's sustainable to allow that to continue, with all its consequences for public confidence in the police,they need to think again," she said, adding that everybody in policing had a duty to ensure that nobody was ever stopped on the basis of their skin colour. | "If anybody thinks that it's sustainable to allow that to continue, with all its consequences for public confidence in the police,they need to think again," she said, adding that everybody in policing had a duty to ensure that nobody was ever stopped on the basis of their skin colour. |
| May said that at best stop and search applied fairly could lead to arrests and build community confidence in the police but at worst when it was misapplied it undermined public confidence and wasted police time. | May said that at best stop and search applied fairly could lead to arrests and build community confidence in the police but at worst when it was misapplied it undermined public confidence and wasted police time. |
| The short consultation is to be accompanied by the publication next week of a report by the Inspectorate of Constabulary into the effectiveness of current stop-and-search laws. The research was commissioned after LSE/Guardian research into the August 2011 riots identified the operation of the stop-and-search laws as a key factor behind the disturbances. | The short consultation is to be accompanied by the publication next week of a report by the Inspectorate of Constabulary into the effectiveness of current stop-and-search laws. The research was commissioned after LSE/Guardian research into the August 2011 riots identified the operation of the stop-and-search laws as a key factor behind the disturbances. |
| May told the Commons that as long as she was home secretary she would maintain the ability of the police to stop and search suspects, saying it was an important power in the fight against crime. | May told the Commons that as long as she was home secretary she would maintain the ability of the police to stop and search suspects, saying it was an important power in the fight against crime. |
| But she said the fact that only 9% of the 1.2 million stop-and-search incidents that took place every year led to an arrest "prompts me to question whether stop and search is always used appropriately". | But she said the fact that only 9% of the 1.2 million stop-and-search incidents that took place every year led to an arrest "prompts me to question whether stop and search is always used appropriately". |
| The home secretary said the search-to-arrest ratio varied from 3% in Cumbria, to 7% the West Midlands, and 8% in Manchester and in London, where most stop-and-searches take place. | The home secretary said the search-to-arrest ratio varied from 3% in Cumbria, to 7% the West Midlands, and 8% in Manchester and in London, where most stop-and-searches take place. |
| "We shouldn't expect all stop-and-search incidents to lead to arrest but those percentages are too low for comfort," she said. | "We shouldn't expect all stop-and-search incidents to lead to arrest but those percentages are too low for comfort," she said. |
| In London this meant that 45,000 criminals had been arrested in the past 12 months, including 3,212 carrying weapons, and 7,287 in possession of suspected stolen goods. | In London this meant that 45,000 criminals had been arrested in the past 12 months, including 3,212 carrying weapons, and 7,287 in possession of suspected stolen goods. |
| May said that it took 16 minutes for an officer to conduct a stop and search and complete the paperwork. "If it's being used too much or with the wrong people, then it is a dreadful waste of police time," she said. | May said that it took 16 minutes for an officer to conduct a stop and search and complete the paperwork. "If it's being used too much or with the wrong people, then it is a dreadful waste of police time," she said. |
| In tThe Metropolitan police commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, has set a target that at least 20% of searches in London should lead to an arrest or drugs warning. The latest figure suggests it had risen to 18.3% in the last year after the adoption of a more "intelligence-led approach" at a time when the overall use of the powers had fallen from 500,000 to 350,000. | In tThe Metropolitan police commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, has set a target that at least 20% of searches in London should lead to an arrest or drugs warning. The latest figure suggests it had risen to 18.3% in the last year after the adoption of a more "intelligence-led approach" at a time when the overall use of the powers had fallen from 500,000 to 350,000. |
| "I want to see stop and search used only when it is needed. I want to see higher search-to-arrest ratios. I want to see better community engagement and I want to see more efficient recording practices across the country," said the home secretary. | "I want to see stop and search used only when it is needed. I want to see higher search-to-arrest ratios. I want to see better community engagement and I want to see more efficient recording practices across the country," said the home secretary. |
| The launch of the consultation was widely welcomed in the Commons. Keith Vaz, chairman of the Commons home affairs select committee, noted that searches under section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act– which do not even need the police to have any grounds of suspicion – black people were 25 times more likely to be searched in the street. | The launch of the consultation was widely welcomed in the Commons. Keith Vaz, chairman of the Commons home affairs select committee, noted that searches under section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act– which do not even need the police to have any grounds of suspicion – black people were 25 times more likely to be searched in the street. |
| "It can't be right in Britain that you should be targeted because of the colour of your skin," he said. | "It can't be right in Britain that you should be targeted because of the colour of your skin," he said. |
| May said that she would bring forward detailed proposals for change, short of setting targets, this year after the public consultation. | May said that she would bring forward detailed proposals for change, short of setting targets, this year after the public consultation. |
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