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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/mar/31/police-given-more-stop-and-search-powers-to-tackle-knife
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| Police given more stop and search powers to tackle knife crime | Police given more stop and search powers to tackle knife crime |
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| Police in England and Wales are being given more power to stop and search people without “reasonable suspicion” in an attempt to tackle knife crime. | Police in England and Wales are being given more power to stop and search people without “reasonable suspicion” in an attempt to tackle knife crime. |
| The home secretary, Sajid Javid, has announced he is making it easier for officers to impose a section 60 order, which allows them to search anyone in an area if serious violence is anticipated. | The home secretary, Sajid Javid, has announced he is making it easier for officers to impose a section 60 order, which allows them to search anyone in an area if serious violence is anticipated. |
| Critics argue that stop and search powers are frequently misused, disproportionately targeting black people, undermining community relations and are ultimately ineffective at reducing crime. | Critics argue that stop and search powers are frequently misused, disproportionately targeting black people, undermining community relations and are ultimately ineffective at reducing crime. |
| However, Javid defended the move, saying: “The police are on the frontline in the battle against serious violence and it’s vital we give them the right tools to do their jobs.” | However, Javid defended the move, saying: “The police are on the frontline in the battle against serious violence and it’s vital we give them the right tools to do their jobs.” |
| He said stop and search was a “hugely effective power when it comes to disrupting crime, taking weapons off our streets and keeping us safe”. | He said stop and search was a “hugely effective power when it comes to disrupting crime, taking weapons off our streets and keeping us safe”. |
| “That’s why we are making it simpler for police in areas particularly affected by serious violence to use section 60 and increasing the number of officers who can authorise the power.” | “That’s why we are making it simpler for police in areas particularly affected by serious violence to use section 60 and increasing the number of officers who can authorise the power.” |
| Police chiefs have described the recent spate of knife crime as ‘a national emergency’. In the first two months of 2019 there were 17 homicides in London alone, where 35% of all knife crimes are committed. | Police chiefs have described the recent spate of knife crime as ‘a national emergency’. In the first two months of 2019 there were 17 homicides in London alone, where 35% of all knife crimes are committed. |
| The number of NHS England admissions among people aged 10-19 with knife wounds has risen 60% in five years, surpassing 1,000 last year. | The number of NHS England admissions among people aged 10-19 with knife wounds has risen 60% in five years, surpassing 1,000 last year. |
| The number of knife and offensive weapon offences in England and Wales have risen to their highest level for nearly a decade, with the number of cases dealt with by the criminal justice system up by more than a third since 2015. Knife crime-related offences recorded by the police rose by 8% in England and Wales in 2018. | |
| Figures on sentences handed out for such crimes, published by the Ministry of Justice, showed there were 22,041 knife and weapon offences formally dealt with by the criminal justice system in the year ending March 2019. This is the highest rate since 2010, when the number was 23,667. | Figures on sentences handed out for such crimes, published by the Ministry of Justice, showed there were 22,041 knife and weapon offences formally dealt with by the criminal justice system in the year ending March 2019. This is the highest rate since 2010, when the number was 23,667. |
| In the year ending March 2019, 37% of knife and offensive weapon offences resulted in an immediate custodial sentence, compared with 22% in 2009, when the data was first published. The average length of the custodial sentences rose to the longest in a decade, from 5.5 months to 8.1 months. | In the year ending March 2019, 37% of knife and offensive weapon offences resulted in an immediate custodial sentence, compared with 22% in 2009, when the data was first published. The average length of the custodial sentences rose to the longest in a decade, from 5.5 months to 8.1 months. |
| The MoJ figures revealed that the number of juvenile offenders convicted or cautioned for possession or threats using a knife or offensive weapon increased by almost half (48%) between the year ending March 2015 and the year ending March 2019. | The MoJ figures revealed that the number of juvenile offenders convicted or cautioned for possession or threats using a knife or offensive weapon increased by almost half (48%) between the year ending March 2015 and the year ending March 2019. |
| The increase in adult offenders over the same period was smaller, at 31%. However, adult offenders still accounted for 74% of the total increase in cautions and convictions received for those offences in that period. | The increase in adult offenders over the same period was smaller, at 31%. However, adult offenders still accounted for 74% of the total increase in cautions and convictions received for those offences in that period. |
| In March 2019 chancellor, Philip Hammond, handed an extra £100m to police forces in England and Wales after a spate of fatal stabbings led to a renewed focus on rising knife crime and police resources. | In March 2019 chancellor, Philip Hammond, handed an extra £100m to police forces in England and Wales after a spate of fatal stabbings led to a renewed focus on rising knife crime and police resources. |
| In the same month more than 10,000 knives were seized and 1,372 suspects arrested during a week-long national knife crime crackdown. Officers carried out 3,771 weapons searches, during which 342 knives were found. Another 10,215 were handed in as part of amnesties. | In the same month more than 10,000 knives were seized and 1,372 suspects arrested during a week-long national knife crime crackdown. Officers carried out 3,771 weapons searches, during which 342 knives were found. Another 10,215 were handed in as part of amnesties. |
| A new Offensive Weapons Act was passed in May 2019, making it illegal to possess dangerous weapons including knuckledusters, zombie knives and death star knives. It also made it a criminal offence to dispatch bladed products sold online without verifying the buyer is over 18. | A new Offensive Weapons Act was passed in May 2019, making it illegal to possess dangerous weapons including knuckledusters, zombie knives and death star knives. It also made it a criminal offence to dispatch bladed products sold online without verifying the buyer is over 18. |
| Between March 2017 and 2018, 285 killings were carried out with a knife or sharp instrument, the highest since Home Office records began in 1946. The rates, recorded by police, marked the fourth consecutive annual rise in the number of homicides after a long-term decline. | Between March 2017 and 2018, 285 killings were carried out with a knife or sharp instrument, the highest since Home Office records began in 1946. The rates, recorded by police, marked the fourth consecutive annual rise in the number of homicides after a long-term decline. |
| Stop and search in schools would be a terrible indictment of society | Gill Burbridge | Stop and search in schools would be a terrible indictment of society | Gill Burbridge |
| According to analysis by the Guardian, the Metropolitan police had already increased its use of stop and search last year, with a 19% rise in searches carried out among London’s minority black population, which was targeted more than the white population. | According to analysis by the Guardian, the Metropolitan police had already increased its use of stop and search last year, with a 19% rise in searches carried out among London’s minority black population, which was targeted more than the white population. |
| The research also revealed that searches of black people were less likely to detect crime than those conducted on white people, and most stops found no wrongdoing. | The research also revealed that searches of black people were less likely to detect crime than those conducted on white people, and most stops found no wrongdoing. |
| Stop and search has been linked by academics and some in policing to outbreaks of disorder, while others have linked its use to a drop in crime. | Stop and search has been linked by academics and some in policing to outbreaks of disorder, while others have linked its use to a drop in crime. |
| Section 60 is often enforced after an incident of serious violence when police anticipate reprisals, or at major public events. The power was deployed last year at London’s Notting Hill carnival, and during an operation outside Stratford station in east London. | Section 60 is often enforced after an incident of serious violence when police anticipate reprisals, or at major public events. The power was deployed last year at London’s Notting Hill carnival, and during an operation outside Stratford station in east London. |
| In 2017-18, police in England and Wales carried out 2,501 stops and searches under section 60, up from 631 in the previous year. Overall, police stop and search activity has fallen sharply in recent years. | In 2017-18, police in England and Wales carried out 2,501 stops and searches under section 60, up from 631 in the previous year. Overall, police stop and search activity has fallen sharply in recent years. |
| Theresa May, when home secretary, warned police about the damage such disproportionality caused and pressed for change, resulting in a drop in the overall level. | Theresa May, when home secretary, warned police about the damage such disproportionality caused and pressed for change, resulting in a drop in the overall level. |
| May, who will host a summit on serious youth violence on Monday, said stop and search was an “important tool” in the fight against knife crime. “These changes will support police officers tackling serious violence in the worst affected areas,” she said in a statement.“Stop and search powers are an important tool in the fight against knife crime, and we will continue to drive tough law enforcement to protect the public. As a whole society, we also need to take a hard look at the root causes of these crimes so we can intervene earlier and stop young people from being drawn into violence in the first place.” | May, who will host a summit on serious youth violence on Monday, said stop and search was an “important tool” in the fight against knife crime. “These changes will support police officers tackling serious violence in the worst affected areas,” she said in a statement.“Stop and search powers are an important tool in the fight against knife crime, and we will continue to drive tough law enforcement to protect the public. As a whole society, we also need to take a hard look at the root causes of these crimes so we can intervene earlier and stop young people from being drawn into violence in the first place.” |
| The Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson, Ed Davey, dismissed the initiative, accusing the government of trying to tackle knife crime “on the cheap”. | The Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson, Ed Davey, dismissed the initiative, accusing the government of trying to tackle knife crime “on the cheap”. |
| “It won’t work. More random, suspicion-less stop and searches, carried out disproportionately on people from BAME communities, are not the answer,” said Davey. | “It won’t work. More random, suspicion-less stop and searches, carried out disproportionately on people from BAME communities, are not the answer,” said Davey. |
| “They will not only consume police time and erode trust in the police, but have little impact in actually preventing people carrying knives. What we really need is more community police officers to build trust, turn young people away from crime, and target stop and searches on those who do carry knives.” | “They will not only consume police time and erode trust in the police, but have little impact in actually preventing people carrying knives. What we really need is more community police officers to build trust, turn young people away from crime, and target stop and searches on those who do carry knives.” |
| • The sub-heading of this article was amended on 1 April 2019 to qualify its scope. The change applies to rules governing searches under particular legislation, not to searches under all legislation. | • The sub-heading of this article was amended on 1 April 2019 to qualify its scope. The change applies to rules governing searches under particular legislation, not to searches under all legislation. |
| Knife crime | Knife crime |
| Crime | Crime |
| Police | Police |
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