Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #stopsearch
Most recents (12)
Re. the concerns raised about the potential for a large rise in #stopsearch: it is of course quite possible that forces like the Met will choose not to do so.
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theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/j…
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theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/j…
I personally don't foresee a return to the days of #opblunt2 and the wholesale use of s60 #stopsearch powers, which I think were used in the late 00s well beyond the original intention of Parliament (in 2007 I raised that with a Met Commander when I was working there).
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What makes me think that? Well for one thing, I know there are officers in positions of influence at the moment who express reservations about the efficacy of #stopsearch as a wholesale strategy. I think the culture has moved on (though recognise that could change).
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"The policing minister has defended plans to ease restrictions on stop and search powers for police, saying there is no feasible alternative if knife crime is to be tackled" #stopsearch
1/ theguardian.com/law/2021/jul/2…
1/ theguardian.com/law/2021/jul/2…
Note the policy relates to s60 ('suspicionless') powers only. This is significant because many officers will tell you most stops done under s60 could be done under a suspicion-based power (eg s1 PACE), and therefore there often is a 'feasible alternative' to s60. @kitmalthouse
.@EssexBarrister I appreciated your contribution yesterday to the discussion on Sky. Wondered if I might offer a few pieces of the puzzle re disproportionality in terms of crime and policing?
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Nationally, '...among the broad ethnic groups, Black people were most likely to live in the 10% of neighbourhoods most deprived in relation to crime (27% of this group did so)’ ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/uk-population-…
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In London (and elsewhere), areas (here boroughs) with more crime are allocated more police officers (TNO = Total Notifiable Offences)
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Here's a question: do police officers get any training on the risks of logical fallacies (and/or statistics...)?
What am I on about? Bear with me...
[Short thread]
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What am I on about? Bear with me...
[Short thread]
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I attended (virtually) a meeting the other day at which several attendees described their/their colleagues' experiences of being stopped and searched by police during lockdown. Most of the cases related to s23 drugs #stopsearch-es. A couple had received media coverage.
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Eg 2 scenarios. (i) Black man sitting in his nice car (in a fairly deprived area) minding his own business, police stop next to him and ask him to get out for a s23 drugs search. (ii) Young people delivering food parcels #stopsearch-ed on suspicion of dealing drugs.
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Some focus today on an increase in s60 #stopsearch by the Met during lockdown, eg in this article by @sloumarsh. I'd like to suggest that's a bit of a red herring.
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theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/j….
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theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/j….
Here are the MPS #stopsearch monthly totals by reason for search/power, fr June 2018 to June 2020. Huge increase in totals over the period, driven by drugs stops (s23).
The s60 totals are in red at the bottom (Jan'20 1.2k, Feb 505, Mar 710, Apr 292, May 1.4k, Jun 678).
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The s60 totals are in red at the bottom (Jan'20 1.2k, Feb 505, Mar 710, Apr 292, May 1.4k, Jun 678).
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And here are the monthly percentages by reason for search/power for the same period.
s60 peaked at 27% in Aug18 and 12% in Aug19 (both Notting Hill Carnival). Was 4.6% in Jan 2020, 2.2% in Feb, 3.0% in Mar, 1.0% in Apr, 3.3% in May and 2.3% in June #stopsearch
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s60 peaked at 27% in Aug18 and 12% in Aug19 (both Notting Hill Carnival). Was 4.6% in Jan 2020, 2.2% in Feb, 3.0% in Mar, 1.0% in Apr, 3.3% in May and 2.3% in June #stopsearch
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I recently suggested the high rate of #stopsearch by the MPS (and population demographics) skews national disproportionality rate calculations. In this thread I'll post some numbers.
1/ THREAD
1/ THREAD
I thought it would be interesting to look at how London/the MPS compares to the rest of England and Wales combined.
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I've looked at the #stopsearch rate per 1,000 for black and white people only (to simplify the analysis) for 2018/19. I've removed BTP & City of London due to the impossibility/difficulty to calc rates.
I'm using the data posted at (8) on this page: ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/crime-justice-…
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I'm using the data posted at (8) on this page: ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/crime-justice-…
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I've been thinking more about #stopsearch disproportionality. Thought I'd have a look at Lambeth, which is a borough with v high volumes of SS and lots of youth violence type issues.
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The MPS #stopsearch dashboard shows SS during Jul19-Jun20 (total n=15,908) focused on males (93%), black subjects (61%), 15-24 yr olds (49%). Peak rate for 15-19 yr olds (309 per 1,000).
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Using the @LDN_data GLA 'Ethnic group projections (2016-based housing-led)' I looked at the estimated borough population structure, by gender, age and ethnicity, in 2019.
data.london.gov.uk/download/ethni…
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data.london.gov.uk/download/ethni…
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Perhaps some context to complaints re #stopsearch in London: there has been a massive increase in volumes over the last 2yrs.
The result: falling arrest (and positive outcome) rates, down from 18.2% (30.7%) in Jul 18 to 9.1% (19.8%) in May 20. met.police.uk/sd/stats-and-d…
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The result: falling arrest (and positive outcome) rates, down from 18.2% (30.7%) in Jul 18 to 9.1% (19.8%) in May 20. met.police.uk/sd/stats-and-d…
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There is an inverse relationship between volumes and arrest/positive outcome rates. As volumes of #stopsearch increase, numbers of 'false positives' increase faster = more potential for complaints (all else being equal) and more risks to legitimacy.
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A key way the reduction in #stopsearch in London was achieved after 2011 was through a focus on the strength of grounds (how 'reasonable' were they) and arrest rates. A 20% arrest rate target was introduced and SS fell until it was reached.
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I gave a brief (via Skype) presentation on #knifecrime yesterday to a meeting at @UAL - thought I'd post the slides here in case anyone is interested.
A brief overview of evidence on use/carrying, trends, and then a series of 7 hypotheses about why the increase.
A thread.
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A brief overview of evidence on use/carrying, trends, and then a series of 7 hypotheses about why the increase.
A thread.
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First some headlines re motivation and risks for carrying & use. Main sources @iainbrennan's excellent paper academia.edu/37225623/_Pre-… and the v good recent @CollegeofPolice briefing by Abigail McNeill and @levinwheller college.police.uk/News/College-n… #knifecrime
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To illustrate the trend in recent years I opted first for health rather than crime data. NHS data taken from the spreadsheet published to accompany this @commonslibrary #knifecrime briefing published last Nov. researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefi…
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Being back in S/SE London last week, esp the v diverse (and rel high crime) area I lived in 2010-17, reminded me of an observation I think is relevant to debates about disproportionality re #stopsearch: you just don't see many white teenagers out and about there.
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By contrast, loads of white younger (eg pre/primary age) children, including in local schools which are all (though varyingly) v racially mixed.
So where are the white teens? I've some thoughts/hypotheses, and hope to explore whether empirical evidence bears them out.
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So where are the white teens? I've some thoughts/hypotheses, and hope to explore whether empirical evidence bears them out.
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First, to say that although the area is racially and economically quite mixed - lots of local authority owned terraced housing mixed in with owner occupiers/private renters; large post-war estates, some rebuilt - my impression is that it's also quite socially segregated.
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1. I've had a chance to read the new @StopWatchUK report by @PatrickWillia17 on the MPS #gangsmatrix. Some early reflections here, hope to write something more considered in due course.
Key Q for me: if the matrix was scrapped tomorrow, what would actually change?
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Key Q for me: if the matrix was scrapped tomorrow, what would actually change?
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2. I'll start by saying I think it is appropriate for police and other agencies to have a particular focus on gang/group violence, as long as it is only one lens through which violence is understood and addressed.
3. Key point for me: the significance of gang/group dynamics as risk mulitipliers, eg collective responsibility and revenge. Maybe the ‘gang’ label detracts from what are broader phenomena (especially in respect of 'associates')? #gangsmatrix
Arrests down, blame the police?
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According to the Crime Survey for England and Wales crime is down a lot; police recorded crime has been rising in recent years.
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We know police recorded is up partly due to more reported crimes being recorded by forces, esp less serious
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