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Stop and search: there's an app for that Stop and search: there's an app for that
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Aaron Sonson, Satwant Singh Kenth and Gregory Paczkowski, were set the challenge of designing an app that would help solve a community problem. They were on a course called Apps for Good, run by the non-profit organisation the Centre for Digital Inclusion. Some 21 problems were shortlisted but the three friends, who had all been stopped and searched a number of times, came up with the Stop and Search app.Aaron Sonson, Satwant Singh Kenth and Gregory Paczkowski, were set the challenge of designing an app that would help solve a community problem. They were on a course called Apps for Good, run by the non-profit organisation the Centre for Digital Inclusion. Some 21 problems were shortlisted but the three friends, who had all been stopped and searched a number of times, came up with the Stop and Search app.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission reported this week that black people were 28 times more likely to use stop-and-search powers against black people than white people. As we learned from the Guardian and LSE's Reading the Riots research, discontent with the police contributed to last summer's riots and the use and abuse of stop and search was one of the most loathed aspects. The Equality and Human Rights Commission reported this week that police were 28 times more likely to use stop-and-search powers against black people than white people. As we learned from the Guardian and LSE's Reading the Riots research, discontent with the police contributed to last summer's riots and the use and abuse of stop and search was one of the most loathed aspects.
"My friends and I have been stopped in the past, much more when we were younger," reflects Sonson, a 25-year old from south London. What's the worst thing about the experience? "The lack of respect and the absence of a genuine reason.""My friends and I have been stopped in the past, much more when we were younger," reflects Sonson, a 25-year old from south London. What's the worst thing about the experience? "The lack of respect and the absence of a genuine reason."
He guesstimates he might have been stopped ten times as a teen growing up in Tulse Hill. "Those feelings don't easily go away. They linger and it affects your perception of the police. If something has happened and there is a need to do stop and searches, then – yes - it has to happen; but you should at least show respect and be fair about it."He guesstimates he might have been stopped ten times as a teen growing up in Tulse Hill. "Those feelings don't easily go away. They linger and it affects your perception of the police. If something has happened and there is a need to do stop and searches, then – yes - it has to happen; but you should at least show respect and be fair about it."
The free Blackberry app was released in April and has been downloaded 2,500 times so far. Its developers claim it will bring "more fairness, accountability and transparency to the stop and search procedure and be the voice of all innocent people stopped and searched in the UK".The free Blackberry app was released in April and has been downloaded 2,500 times so far. Its developers claim it will bring "more fairness, accountability and transparency to the stop and search procedure and be the voice of all innocent people stopped and searched in the UK".
It allows you to check what your rights are and give feedback about your experience (sample questions include: "how much respect do you feel you were shown?" and "how cooperative do you feel you were?"). You can upload your experience along with the badge number of the officer and the number of the stop and search slip. The friends are now working on iPhone and Android versions.It allows you to check what your rights are and give feedback about your experience (sample questions include: "how much respect do you feel you were shown?" and "how cooperative do you feel you were?"). You can upload your experience along with the badge number of the officer and the number of the stop and search slip. The friends are now working on iPhone and Android versions.
The idea is not unique, civil liberties campaigners have recently launched a similar app that monitors police stops in New York. Jake Ferguson, chief exec of Hackney CVS (Council for Voluntary Services), is working with a team of young people to develop an app with the cooperation of local police. As Ferguson puts it, there needs to be "a professionalised understanding on the part of both parties that this app will help that stop and search encounter".The idea is not unique, civil liberties campaigners have recently launched a similar app that monitors police stops in New York. Jake Ferguson, chief exec of Hackney CVS (Council for Voluntary Services), is working with a team of young people to develop an app with the cooperation of local police. As Ferguson puts it, there needs to be "a professionalised understanding on the part of both parties that this app will help that stop and search encounter".
It's part of a range of strategies around the contentious issue in the borough including a new stop and search monitoring group. "As a result of work we have done with the police, stop and search success rates of gone from a pitiful 8% up to 19.6% over a four-month period," he says.It's part of a range of strategies around the contentious issue in the borough including a new stop and search monitoring group. "As a result of work we have done with the police, stop and search success rates of gone from a pitiful 8% up to 19.6% over a four-month period," he says.
But can an app be useful? And how? "What is important is that young people know their rights," Kam Gill, a research and policy analyst at the Runnymede Trust and a member of the StopWatch tells me. "It is not always the case that the police stopping the young people respect those rights. It is certainly not uncommon to be treated in ways that actually contravene the various guidelines." But, he adds, there's "a difference between knowing your rights and being able to exercise them".But can an app be useful? And how? "What is important is that young people know their rights," Kam Gill, a research and policy analyst at the Runnymede Trust and a member of the StopWatch tells me. "It is not always the case that the police stopping the young people respect those rights. It is certainly not uncommon to be treated in ways that actually contravene the various guidelines." But, he adds, there's "a difference between knowing your rights and being able to exercise them".
Gill explains: "An officer should tell you their name, the reason why you've been stopped and the power that you are being stopped under. They should also give you their badge number, the name of the police station and provide you with a receipt at the end. In extreme circumstances they're allowed not to give you that receipt." He points out that there is some leeway on that last point and "so unfortunately it's often at the discretion of the officer whether the receipt is given".Gill explains: "An officer should tell you their name, the reason why you've been stopped and the power that you are being stopped under. They should also give you their badge number, the name of the police station and provide you with a receipt at the end. In extreme circumstances they're allowed not to give you that receipt." He points out that there is some leeway on that last point and "so unfortunately it's often at the discretion of the officer whether the receipt is given".
As Gill points out, if young people "aggressively or enthusiastically" demand their rights, they could end up being arrested. "It is important to note that while you're entitled to these things, you need to judge a situation". Being stopped on the streets can be a tense situation: "if you reach into your pocket for the phone the officer does not know what you're reaching for".As Gill points out, if young people "aggressively or enthusiastically" demand their rights, they could end up being arrested. "It is important to note that while you're entitled to these things, you need to judge a situation". Being stopped on the streets can be a tense situation: "if you reach into your pocket for the phone the officer does not know what you're reaching for".
That said, you shouldn't feel uncomfortable about using a mobile phone. "It's not a young person's responsibility to stop the police feeling intimidated," Gill says. "They should be happy to be as observed as much as possible. They are fulfilling their democratic duty."That said, you shouldn't feel uncomfortable about using a mobile phone. "It's not a young person's responsibility to stop the police feeling intimidated," Gill says. "They should be happy to be as observed as much as possible. They are fulfilling their democratic duty."
Jon Robins edits thejusticegap.com. See here for more information about your stop and search rightsJon Robins edits thejusticegap.com. See here for more information about your stop and search rights