Jenny Jones, London assembly member and Mayoral candidate for the Green Party, today welcomed the new Metropolitan Police Commissioner’s response to her concerns about the current stop and search approach.
Jenny, who sits on the Metropolitan Police Authority, has long argued for a change to stop and search procedures. She pressed new Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe at his first MPA meeting this morning.
Mr Hogan-Howe made it clear he agreed with Jenny’s concerns, and indicated a move away from the current widespread stop and search approach to a "smarter way of doing it".
The new approach would involve better targeting, focussing on those previously caught carrying a weapon, "rather than just a generic stop and search". It could also see a high-profile helpline set up, allowing people to quickly report someone going out carrying a weapon.
Jenny Jones said:
"We urgently need to deal with knife crime in London, but the big push to use knife arches and to increase stop and searches has not solved the problem. Indeed, the Commissioner himself stated this morning that knife crime has gone up by 17%."
She continued:
"I am glad that Hogan-Howe wants a smarter, more targeted approach, especially as the excess use of stop and searches has alienated many of the young people who are victims of knife crime. Far too many innocent people have been subjected to stop and search, which does nothing to help foster good police relations within the community. It is a significant change from the approach favoured by the Mayor in the last few years and will hopefully be more effective."