The Metropolitan Police Service [MPS] welcomes today's further announcement by the Home Secretary regarding the Best Use of Stop and Search scheme.
The MPS was one of the first forces to sign up to the scheme which reflects many of the innovative changes the MPS has made regarding stop and search and we are working hard to implement, and support, our ongoing commitment to making stop and search more intelligence-led and effective in the capital.
Today the MPS is going live with two components of the Best Use of Stop and Search scheme: introducing higher levels of authorisation before considering the use of Section 60 (the blanket power to stop and search people in anticipation of serious violence without any prior suspicion that they may be carrying weapons) and better recording of the outcomes of searches in order to further increase transparency and effectiveness.
In line with the Best Use of Stop and Search scheme, we have raised the threshold required to authorise a Section 60 authority to commander - previously an inspector or above could authorise. Authorising officers must reasonably believe that violence 'will' take place in a specific area rather than 'may' and can only authorise the use of Section 60 when they reasonably believe it is necessary to do so.
We have also reduced the maximum time period that a Section 60 authority can be in place from 24 hours to 15 hours and we will improve the ways that we notify our communities when a section 60 is in place in their area, such as through matrix signing, liaising with our community contacts, social media and leafleting.
In future the MPS will record all outcomes of stop and search and in particular whether there is a connection between the grounds for the search and the eventual outcome. For example there may be occasions when a search has taken place following a report of minor crime where the victim simply requests that the person be warned for their actions (e.g. following a low-value shoplifting incident where the items are recovered). This kind of community resolution is not currently reflected in our statistics.
Data will be published online to further enhance public scrutiny and accountability in the police use of these powers.
The MPS will continue to work with London's communities, stakeholders and its officers to increase effectiveness and public confidence, improve the quality of the encounter and ensure stop and search continues to protect Londoners.
Commander Adrian Hanstock, MPS lead for stop and search, said: "The Best Use Stop and Search scheme supports the Met's ongoing drive to make stop and search more intelligence-led and effective.
"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.
"As a result, we are arresting more people than ever before following the more targeted use of stop and search and routinely find people in possession of weapons and stolen items.
"In line with the Best Use of Stop and Search scheme and our commitment to increase transparency and accountability, the MPS has today introduced a new approach to Section 60 authorisation and has introduced revised recording of stop and search outcomes.
"We recognise the impact stop and search can have on individuals and communities. 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, but we of course recognise there is much more to do to improve confidence across all communities in the use of the powers."
In January 2012 the MPS launched a major and renewed focus on stop and search to make it more intelligence-led, effective and fair. Since then we have seen significant reductions in the volumes of searches carried out, increased arrest rates and reduced complaints.
We know we have a public mandate for its continued use. Since December 2012 the well established Public Attitude Survey has been tracking Londoner's views on stop and search.
By March 2014, 15,772 people had been canvassed, and the latest results show 71 per cent are in favour of the MPS's use of stop and search and 70 per cent are confident it is used fairly.
Asking individuals to account for their presence or behaviour is an important part of
everyday policing. Stop and search is an additional and legitimate power that is used by the MPS to protect Londoners, tackle crime and keep our streets safe.
In 2013, 47,141 arrests were made as a result of stop and search. This represents 20 per cent of all arrests made by the MPS and displays what a vital crime fighting tool it is.
We do not under estimate the impact stop and search has on communities and individuals. We know that to maintain public confidence in its use, the power must be used in a fair and effective manner. We are displaying fair use through greater transparency and improved engagement with our communities. Our effectiveness is demonstrated by improved targeting and the increasing arrest rate.
Fair use
Since February 2012 annual search (PACE & section 60) volumes have reduced by 48 per cent, from 518,510 to 251,161. Section 60 authorities have reduced by 91 per cent, and the number of section 60 searches has reduced by 96 per cent. Of the 251,161 people who were stopped and searched from August 2014 to July 2014, 46 per cent (115,270) were white, 29 per cent (72,016) black and 14 per cent (34,267) Asian. Males account for 94 per cent of all stops and searches.
There is disparity in the use of stop and search in relation to gender, age and race. The reasons for disparity are complex and include the use of the power to tackle gangs and specific crimes. All measures of disproportionality are subjective depending on which population base is employed. No population base will ever accurately capture a street population in a given area, at a given time.
It is important to measure the impact stop and search has on communities and individuals. This is done through both effective community engagement and community accountability.
Every London borough has a Local Monitoring Group which scrutinises performance and practice. The chairs of these groups meet quarterly in the form of the Community Monitoring Network (CMN) which operates under the independent direction of the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime.
To ensure accountability, comprehensive monthly stop and search data is published on the MPS Freedom of Information site. The MPS has a strategic group which includes representation from the CMN, Race Independent Advisory Group, Equality & Human Rights Commission, Independent Police Complaints Commission, Black Police Association and senior community leaders. The MPS are also represented at the Police and Public Encounters Board hich has a national membership and influences and monitors national stop and search procedure and practice.
Public complaints arising from Stop & Search have reduced by 38 per cent, compared to a 7 per cent reduction in overall public complaints (financial year 2012/13 vs financial year 2013/14).
Unlike many other forces, the MPS continues to record Stop and Account and for the financial year 2013/14, there were 331,896 stop and accounts with the proportion of persons stopped being 62 per cent white, 15 per cent black and 15 per cent Asian.
Youth engagement is a key activity and many boroughs have dedicated engagement officers in addition to full time schools officers. Stop and search is included in youth engagement activities which has included presentations, question and answer panels and role plays. A youth engagement model has been developed which brings young people together with local officers, to raise awareness of the impact of stop and search amongst the officers and to improve the confidence of young people in the police use of the power.
Effective use
Whilst the MPS has corporate targets for crime reduction, there are no individual numeric stop and search targets set for officers. The only objective relates to the outcome expected following a stop and search being conducted. This means the MPS aims for 20 per cent of all stop and searches to result in an arrest. The arrest rate has been steadily rising, from 8 per cent in 2011 to 20.5 per cent in July 2014; this is due to an increase in the number of arrests and the drop in overall volume of searches.
Having listened to community representatives and reference groups, the MPS has set expectations for the types of crime that stop and search should be tackling. Our focus is on dealing with crimes that cause Londoners the most concern, and we expect a minimum of 20 per cent of all stops and searches should target weapons and 40 per cent should target neighbourhood crimes. This approach also provides flexibility to address specific local concerns. In July 2014, 12 per cent were for weapons, 26 per cent for neighbourhood crimes and 62 per cent for local issues.
The MPS will continue to build upon the improvements already made and welcome Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary 2013 report and the findings from the London Assembly Police & Crime Committee in 2014.