Creating a fairer Britain
In March 2010, we published 'Stop and think: A critical review of the use of stop and search powers in England and Wales'. Read the full press release.
The figures are stark: if you are a black person, you are at least six times as likely to be stopped and searched by the police in England and Wales as a white person. If you are Asian, you are around twice as likely to be stopped and searched as a white person.
Despite years of debate and several initiatives aimed at tackling the problem, these ratios have stayed stubbornly high.
The majority of stops and searches in England and Wales are conducted under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE). We believe that the current police use of PACE stop and search powers may be unlawful, disproportionate, discriminatory and damaging to relations within and between communities.
Read the full report: PDF format or Word format.
Order a printed copy or an alternative format of Stop and Think from our publications pages.
The results of the Stop and Think Report were supported by an independent study produced for the Commission, Differential treatment in the youth justice system. It examined how much control was influenced by the police on the ethnic composition of young people entering the youth justice system. The researchers found that black and ethnic minority youths were over-represented in the criminal justice system. This over-representation started at the point of entry into the system, and largely continued as young suspects and defendants passed through it.
The report that an adversarial style of policing risks creating animosity and distrust towards the police, especially amongst youths from ethnic minorities. It says that when police forces adopt a professional ‘rule of law’ approach, the result is fewer arrests of black and mixed race youths and improved relationships with their community. Researchers found that officers were also more likely to give white youths more lenient reprimands or fines, while black and mixed race youths were more likely to be charged with crimes. This was the case even when the alleged crimes and the individuals’ criminal histories were similar.
Read, Download or order an alternative format from our research page (research report 50)
12 January 2012: Commission responds to Metropolitan Police plan to reduce the number of random stop and searches
10 May 2011: Commission and police forces sign agreement on stop and search
26 January 2011: Commission statement on counter-terror review
30 November 2010: Commission warns police forces of legal action over use of stop and search
8 July 2010: Commission response to “stricter stop-and-search conditions” announced by the Home Office
3 June 2010: Commission writes to police forces over use of stop and search
15 March 2010: Commission to put police forces on notice over stop and search tactics
12 January 2009: Commission reports on Police and Racism, ten years on from the Macpherson Inquiry