Disappointingly slow progress in improving use of stop and search powers, says Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary

Greater Manchester Police has made disappointingly slow progress in improving use of stop and search powers since 2013, according to a report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC).

The report - Stop and Search Powers 2: are the police using them effectively and fairly? - sets out the findings of an inspection into the progress made by forces since HMIC’s 2013 stop and search report and addresses the Home Secretary’s new commission for HMIC to examine the way the police use powers to stop motor vehicles and strip search people.

In 2013 HMIC made ten recommendations to forces to help them improve their use of Stop and Search powers. In the intervening 18 months there has only been good progress against one of the recommendations.

Forces have made good progress in relation to the recommendation to improve the use of technology to record encounters. Since the 2013 inspection a further 11 forces have equipped some or all of their officers with mobile technology, which brings the total number of forces with access to this facility to 25. Four forces report that all their operational officers can use mobile technology to record stop and search encounters and a further six forces intend to introduce such devices within the next year.

However, forces are still not properly considering fairness in the way they use Stop and Search. Although most forces have conducted work within the past three years to determine the way they used stop and search powers, consistently this research was concentrated on effectiveness rather than on fairness.

Over half of forces reported that they do not proactively gather information about how communities react to the use of stop and search. Forces did not either routinely scan all complaints to see if they arose from stop and search encounters or proactively engage with community groups. HMIC consistently heard that forces relied on low levels of public complaints to indicate public acceptance.

HMIC was disappointed that only 12 forces reported that they took account of the information they gathered about dissatisfaction and used it as part of a structured process to inform future learning and improvement.

When asked to provide information about searches conducted involving the removal of more than outer clothing (including strip searches), only four forces were able to provide any information. It is clear that these searches are happening without proportionate and necessary levels of supervision and scrutiny. HMIC has made a number of recommendations to increase transparency and accountability relating to these highly intrusive searches.

For the first time, HMIC looked at the use of the Road Traffic Act power to stop motor vehicles. None of the 43 police forces had conducted any audits to determine whether or not their use of the Road Traffic Act power was fair and effective. Only three forces have a policy on the use of these powers and only two forces have designated a senior officer to oversee its use.

In the absence of official records, HMIC had to rely on its survey of over 10,000 people to find out the impact this power has on people. The results suggest that black and minority ethnic drivers are more likely to be stopped, more likely not to be provided with a reason for the stop and are more likely to have their vehicle searched.

Following the 2013 report, the Home Secretary introduced the Best Use of Stop and Search Scheme in April 2014 to which all forces have signed up. Their adherence to this scheme, along with their progress in relation to the 2013 and 2015 recommendations will be examined during our annual PEEL assessments of forces.

In response to the report, Greater Manchester’s Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd said: “While HMIC raises concerns that police forces have made slow progress in improving the use of stop and search, in Greater Manchester I continue to challenge police leaders on this issue which has led to significant improvements in how Greater Manchester Police uses this power.

“Earlier this year I held a public forum to examine the progress GMP has made and put further improvements in place. I have also launched a web app so the public can share with me their experiences of being stopped. This will help me hold GMP to account and make sure they are using the power appropriately and fairly.

“Stop and search is a vital tool in keeping our communities safe, but when is it used wrongly the public’s trust is betrayed. Progress is being made in Greater Manchester but there is still a way to go. I will raise HMIC’s recommendations with the Chief Constable and continue to challenge GMP on this issue to ensure they build on the work they have already done to improve the use of stop and search and work with communities to build public confidence.”

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