The Metropolitan Police Commissioner today set out plans for a new approach to stop and search. The Commissioner commented that 6% of stop and searches in London result in an arrest.
Responding to the comments Jenny Jones AM said:
"I welcome the Commissioner’s comments today on the new overhaul of stop and search, particularly when, according to him, only around 6% of stop and searches result in an arrest. It’s a waste of police time and money when 94% of searches are coming up with nothing. Worse still it has alienated communities and hardened negative stereotypes without making people feel safer. I hope the new more ‘targeted’ approach will go some way to reduce the racial disparity which has been increasing in recent years.
"When stop and search has to be done it should be done with extreme politeness and so I support the Commissioner’s drive for more training. Officers should follow the example of the police in Northern Ireland who were able to dramatically improve the relationship between themselves and the communities they were protecting."
