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Police stop and search powers to be overhauled Police stop and search powers to be overhauled
(35 minutes later)
Police stop and search powers are to be overhauled with a revised code of conduct, the home secretary has said.Police stop and search powers are to be overhauled with a revised code of conduct, the home secretary has said.
Theresa May told the Commons that an inquiry had found that a quarter of searches may have been illegal.Theresa May told the Commons that an inquiry had found that a quarter of searches may have been illegal.
She said that if the number of stop and searches did not now come down, she would seek to change the law.She said that if the number of stop and searches did not now come down, she would seek to change the law.
The move follows a consultation, which highlighted concerns that stop and search was used too widely and was unfairly targeting ethnic minorities.The move follows a consultation, which highlighted concerns that stop and search was used too widely and was unfairly targeting ethnic minorities.
Labour say the plans do not go far enough.Labour say the plans do not go far enough.
'Affront to justice''Affront to justice'
Recent figures show only about 10% of more than a million searches lead to an arrest, with black people six times more likely to be stopped than those who are white.Recent figures show only about 10% of more than a million searches lead to an arrest, with black people six times more likely to be stopped than those who are white.
At present, police can stop someone if they have reasonable grounds to suspect they are carrying illegal drugs, a weapon, stolen property or something which could be used to commit a crime, such as a crowbar.At present, police can stop someone if they have reasonable grounds to suspect they are carrying illegal drugs, a weapon, stolen property or something which could be used to commit a crime, such as a crowbar.
However, under Section 60 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, officers can also stop and search someone without suspicion that they are involved in wrongdoing if approved by a senior officer, for example, because there is a fear that serious violence could take place.However, under Section 60 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, officers can also stop and search someone without suspicion that they are involved in wrongdoing if approved by a senior officer, for example, because there is a fear that serious violence could take place.
Mrs May said when misused, stop and search was an "enormous waste of police time" and "hugely damaging to the relationship between the police and the public".Mrs May said when misused, stop and search was an "enormous waste of police time" and "hugely damaging to the relationship between the police and the public".
"In those circumstances it is an unacceptable affront to justice.""In those circumstances it is an unacceptable affront to justice."
She referred to a recent inquiry by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), which found that more than half of all forces in England and Wales were ignoring some rules on stop and search.She referred to a recent inquiry by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), which found that more than half of all forces in England and Wales were ignoring some rules on stop and search.
"It is very clear that in a large number of cases the reasonable grounds for suspicion were not there and one can only therefore assume, given that black people are six times more likely to be stopped and searched than a white person, that it is precisely the fact that they are a black person that has led to that stop and search taking place."It is very clear that in a large number of cases the reasonable grounds for suspicion were not there and one can only therefore assume, given that black people are six times more likely to be stopped and searched than a white person, that it is precisely the fact that they are a black person that has led to that stop and search taking place.
"It is absolutely disgraceful and sadly... this is a feeling that has come through to young people in black and minority ethnic communities that this is what happens and that this is, if you like, a way of life.""It is absolutely disgraceful and sadly... this is a feeling that has come through to young people in black and minority ethnic communities that this is what happens and that this is, if you like, a way of life."
Under the new plans:Under the new plans:
'Backed down''Backed down'
The BBC's home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said the home secretary had wanted to go further, but her original proposals were blocked by Downing Street which was worried they might leave the Conservatives looking soft on crime in the run-up to the general election in 2015.The BBC's home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said the home secretary had wanted to go further, but her original proposals were blocked by Downing Street which was worried they might leave the Conservatives looking soft on crime in the run-up to the general election in 2015.
Responding to Mrs May in the Commons, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper asked her: "Why aren't you banning the use of targets given to police officers to stop and search a certain number of people?Responding to Mrs May in the Commons, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper asked her: "Why aren't you banning the use of targets given to police officers to stop and search a certain number of people?
"Why won't you put the guidance on race discrimination on a statutory basis?"Why won't you put the guidance on race discrimination on a statutory basis?
"And why won't you insist that all forces abide by case law rather than some?"And why won't you insist that all forces abide by case law rather than some?
"Because that is what you called for five months ago. You wrote to the prime minister in December saying that you wanted to change the law on Section 60 stop and searches so that the test for the powers used is necessary and expedient."Because that is what you called for five months ago. You wrote to the prime minister in December saying that you wanted to change the law on Section 60 stop and searches so that the test for the powers used is necessary and expedient.
"Well, we agreed, but instead all you are doing is a voluntary scheme.""Well, we agreed, but instead all you are doing is a voluntary scheme."
She added: "Your plans have been frisked of serious substance and we need to know why you have backed down."She added: "Your plans have been frisked of serious substance and we need to know why you have backed down."
"Your advisers have blamed 'regressive attitudes in No 10'. But why have you listened to them? Because you were right and they were wrong.""Your advisers have blamed 'regressive attitudes in No 10'. But why have you listened to them? Because you were right and they were wrong."
Labour's Diane Abbott, who was Britain's first black woman MP, said successive governments had "failed to act" on the problem, so Mrs May deserved "some credit... for having taken things as far as you have done".
"There is no single issue that poisons relationships between urban communities and the police more than stop and search," she told the Commons.
Conservative Charles Walker gave an example of one of his constituents who had been stopped 50 times between the ages of 13 and 18, adding that he would have a sense of "total desolation and alienation" if that had happened to one of his children.