Local MP Caroline Dinenage has welcomed the launch of a public consultation on the police powers of stop and search.
Stop and search is a vital tool used to tackle crime but there are suggestions that it is currently being used too frequently and often targets the wrong people. It is estimated that a police officer spends 16 minutes conducting a stop and search and then recording details of the incident. With 1.2 million stop and search incidents every year, this amounts to 312,000 hours per year – the equivalent of 145 full-time officers.
Last week, the Home Secretary, Theresa May MP, announced that the Government would be giving the public an opportunity to submit their thoughts about how the procedures are conducted.
Reflecting on the announcement, Caroline said,
"Stop and search is an excellent way to build the confidence of local communities and make sure that people feel safe on their local streets. However, we must do all we can to ensure that these measures are applied fairly and without wasting police time.
I am delighted that the Home Secretary has opened this issue up to public consultation and I hope that as many people as possible use the opportunity to have their say about the future use of stop and search."
Along with the forthcoming report on the issue by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, the consultation will inform plans to get stop and search right – in terms of higher search-to-arrest ratios, better community engagement, and more efficient recording practices across the country.
The consultation will run for six weeks from 2 July until 13 August. To take part, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/stop-and-search or email your submission to [email protected].
