More work to be done around "stop and search"

National Policing Lead for Stop and Search, Deputy Chief Constable Adrian Hanstock said:

“It is clear from today’s report from HMIC that progress in improving the way the police service uses stop and search has not been good enough.

“As a whole, we are in a better position with stop and search than we were following HMIC’s initial report in 2013.  All forces now have a senior manager designated to oversee the use of stop and search, and we are making better use of technology to ensure that when we use the power we record that more reliably. We are also working to make sure the public can scrutinise how we use stop and search, for example, by publishing maps showing where we have used those powers.

“We are committed to ensuring the police service focuses on carrying out these checks fairly and proportionately and that they are intelligence led. We agree with HMIC’s recommendation that there is an urgent need for national training requirements and a clearer definition about what constitutes fair use of stop and search powers. This will give both the public and police officers more confidence that we are using our powers correctly.

“We will also continue to engage with the Home Office to establish how best to incorporate the HMIC’s recommendations on the requirement to formally record searches that involve any removal of clothing or stopping of vehicles into the Codes of Practice.”