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Stop and search: Police code of conduct launched Stop and search: Police code of conduct launched
(about 5 hours later)
A new voluntary code of conduct for how police officers use their powers to stop and search members of the public has been launched by the government. All 43 police forces in England and Wales have agreed to adopt a new government code of conduct for how officers use their powers to stop and search members of the public.
Home Secretary Theresa May has said the technique was being misused so often that it was damaging relations between the public and police. Home Secretary Theresa May had said the technique was being misused so often that it was damaging relations between the public and police.
The 43 police forces in England and Wales have now agreed to record every outcome resulting from stop and search. Police will now record every outcome resulting from stop and search.
There will also be more limits on use of controversial "Section 60" stops. There will also be more limits on using the controversial "Section 60" stops.
Used unlawfullyUsed unlawfully
Officers will need higher authorisation than at present to deploy Section 60 powers, where officers can stop someone without grounds for suspicion. Officers will need higher authorisation than at present to deploy Section 60 powers, under which someone may be stopped without grounds for suspicion.
Police will soon allow public observers to watch stop and search in operation. Police will also soon allow public observers to watch stop and search in operation.
Next year police will start mapping where the practice is used so people can see if one area is targeted more than others, and the public will be entitled to know why this is the case. Next year, police will start mapping where the practice is used so people can see if one area is targeted more than others, and the public will be entitled to know why this is the case.
BBC home affairs correspondent Matt Prodger says stop and search can be an important tool for dealing with those suspected of crime but it can also antagonise and alienate whole sections of the population. The adoption of the Best Use of Stop and Search code comes as the Metropolitan Police said it used the procedure after violent incidents at the Notting Hill Carnival in London on Monday.
Black people are more likely to feel the effects of it than white people, most of the time it does not result in arrest, and in a quarter of cases police are using the power unlawfully. "Used well, stop and search is a vital tool for dealing with those suspected of crime," BBC home affairs correspondent Matt Prodger says.
However, "Black people are more likely to feel the brunt of it than white people; most of the time it doesn't result in arrest, and in a quarter of cases police are using the power unlawfully," our correspondent adds.
Ethnic differencesEthnic differences
Black police inspector Nick Glynn, of the Leicestershire force, has already been chosen to lead reform of the way stop-and-search powers are used nationally. A black police inspector, Nick Glynn of the Leicestershire force, has already been chosen to lead reform of the way stop-and-search powers are used nationally.
He said he had been stopped and searched himself about 30 times while off-duty by officers from other forces.He said he had been stopped and searched himself about 30 times while off-duty by officers from other forces.
Last year, an Equality and Human Rights Commission report said black and Asian people were still far more likely than white people to be stopped and searched by police.Last year, an Equality and Human Rights Commission report said black and Asian people were still far more likely than white people to be stopped and searched by police.
Black people were six times as likely to be stopped overall - but this was as high as 29 times in some areas.Black people were six times as likely to be stopped overall - but this was as high as 29 times in some areas.
The commission said the disproportion between different ethnic groups remained "stubbornly high".The commission said the disproportion between different ethnic groups remained "stubbornly high".
The Metropolitan Police, the UK's largest force, says 251,161 people were subject to stop and search in the 12 months to July 2014, and 47,141 arrests made.
It said 115,270 of those stopped were white, 72,016 were black and 34,267 were Asian, with men accounting for 94% of all searches.
Met Police Commander Adrian Hanstock said the new code "supports the Met's ongoing drive to make stop and search more intelligence-led and effective".
He added: "The Met has made significant improvements to stop and search over the last two years to not only reduce the total number of people we search, but also to ensure that our officers focus on those areas and types of crime that the public are most concerned about.
"Our work with communities and monitoring groups is helping to ensure we are more transparent than ever in how stop and search helps to reduce crime and keep people safe."
'Violent incidents''Violent incidents'
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police said it invoked stop-and-search powers after violent incidents at the Notting Hill Carnival in London on Monday. Scotland Yard said Section 60 and Section 60AA orders were used at the Notting Hill Carnival under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.
Scotland Yard said Section 60 and Section 60AA orders were used under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.
Section 60 allows officers to stop and search people in specific areas where a serious public order problem is likely to arise or has taken place.Section 60 allows officers to stop and search people in specific areas where a serious public order problem is likely to arise or has taken place.
Section 60AA gives police powers to order the removal of disguises in places where Section 60 is in use.Section 60AA gives police powers to order the removal of disguises in places where Section 60 is in use.
The Met said the measures were taken "in response to incidents of violence, and intelligence received, which have taken place within a short period of time in the last few hours". The Met said the measures were taken "in response to incidents of violence, and intelligence received, which have taken place within a short period of time".
Three men were stabbed and two police officers were injured in a series of violent clashes at the carnival on Monday evening.