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A new report published by the Equality and Human Rights Commission recently reveals that overall usage of stop and search by police forces in England and Wales has reduced but black and Asian people are still being disproportionately targeted. 

The Commission analysed race disproportionality in the police use of stop and search powers for 2010-11 and 2011-12, and little has changed. The report looks at stops and searches under section 60 (S.60) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 and section 1 (S.1) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. 

The results show that black people were six times as likely as white people to be stopped and searched by the police in England and Wales under S.1. People from Asian or other ethnic groups were around twice as likely to be stopped and searched as white people. Under S.60, black people were 29 times as likely as white people to be stopped and searched and Asian or other ethnic minorities were nearly six times as likely to be stopped and searched.

Following its Stop and Think project, which involved working with five police forces to address their race disproportionality for S.1 stops and searches, the Commission saw some positive progress, particularly where forces had implemented effective training on use of the power. The Commission plans to continue this work in close partnership with the forces with the highest race disproportionality for S.1 or S.60 stops, to sustain and replicate this good practice.

Mark Hammond, CEO of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said:

“Stop and search is a useful power. If it is used proportionally and intelligently the police can protect the public, reduce crime and disorder and improve relations with black and ethnic minority groups.
“Much work has taken place over the last few years by some police forces to address racial imbalance in their use of stop and search. However, the overall disproportionality in the use of the powers against black, Asian and mixed race people remains stubbornly high. We welcome the review of stop and search recently conducted by the Home Office and look forward to working with them on follow up to this review. Equally, we will be working closely with selected forces, as well as HMIC and the College of Policing, to secure real change at a force level.”

For further information please contact the media office on 0161 829 8102, out of hours 07767 272 818.

Notes to editors

1. The majority of stops and searches in England and Wales are conducted
under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE)

2. Race Disproportionality in Stops and Searches 2011-12, Briefing paper 7 and supporting data can be downloaded at - http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/publications/our-research/briefing-papers/

3. Our previous report Stop and Think is available at -
http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/key-projects/race-in-britain/stop-and-think/

4. Stop and Think Again is available at http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/key-projects/race-in-britain/stop-and-think-again/

5.  Stop and search rates by ethnic group are calculated from the number of stops and searches divided by the estimated resident population in that ethnic group. These are expressed per 1,000 people aged 10 and over.

6.  Disproportionality ratios refer to the ratios of the stop and search rates for different ethnic groups. These allow comparison of rates for different ethnic groups and are used here to compare black and Asian populations with the 
 white population.

7.  Excess stops and searches in comparison with the white population are calculated from the number of black or Asian stops and searches that would result if their stop and search rates were equal to that of the white population in the same area. The ‘excess’ is obtained by subtracting this figure from the actual number of stops and searches. This is equivalent to the product of the size of the black or Asian population multiplied by the difference between the stop and search rates for the black or Asian and white populations. Excesses will often be higher where there are larger black/Asian populations and/or the difference between the black/Asian and white stop and search rates are greater.

8. The Commission is a statutory body established under the Equality Act 2006.  It took over the responsibilities of Commission for Racial Equality, Disability Rights Commission and Equal Opportunities Commission.  It aims to reduce inequality, eliminate discrimination, strengthen good relations between people, and promote and protect human rights.  The Commission enforces equality legislation on age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, and encourages compliance with the Human Rights Act.  It also gives advice and guidance to businesses, the voluntary and public sectors, and to individuals.