The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has introduced a new Stop and Search Charter, developed in collaboration with over 8,500 Londoners. This is the first formal agreement outlining the principles governing stop and search procedures, aiming to improve trust, transparency, and effectiveness.
The charter acknowledges that stop and search is a crucial tool for tackling violent crime, with 17,500 weapons seized over the last four years. However, it also recognizes its contentious nature, particularly within Black and ethnic minority communities. The initiative seeks to retain stop and search as a crime prevention tool while addressing concerns about fairness, bias, and community relations.
Key Changes in the Metropolitan Police’s Approach
1. Quality of Stop and Search Encounters
Officers must conduct searches with professionalism, respect, and clear communication.
De-escalation techniques and empathy training will be enhanced.
Officers must understand how stop and search feels from the perspective of those being searched.
2. Improved Training
Officers will receive enhanced training on communication, de-escalation, and cultural awareness.
The GOWISELY protocol (detailing officers’ legal obligations during stop and search) will be reinforced.
3. Stronger Supervision and Accountability
Regular random reviews of stop and search body-worn camera footage.
More stringent consequences for misuse or poor conduct.
4. Enhanced Complaint Handling and Oversight
Greater community involvement in reviewing complaints to reduce internal bias.
Publicly accessible statistics showing stop and search outcomes across different demographics.
5. Use of Technology for Transparency
Improved access to data and AI tools to monitor trends and identify potential biases.
QR codes and digital platforms will be used for public feedback and awareness.
6. Community Oversight and Scrutiny
Independent governance panels involving community members will scrutinize stop and search operations.
Borough-level discussions will determine when and where stop and search is used, ensuring fair application.
7. Public Awareness and Education
Education campaigns in schools and communities to inform Londoners of their rights.
Use of social media, posters, and workshops to explain the purpose and legal framework of stop and search.
Implications for Community Safety Partnerships
Community Confidence: Increased transparency and community involvement are expected to improve trust between residents and the police, particularly in diverse communities.
Reduction in Complaints and Tensions: A structured complaints process with external oversight may lead to fewer public grievances and enhanced accountability.
Better Coordination with Local Government: The emphasis on borough-level discussions means local leaders will have more input into the strategic deployment of stop and search.
Potential Challenges:
Sustained engagement will be needed to ensure community involvement remains meaningful.
Public perception may take time to shift, especially among those with historic grievances regarding policing.
The effectiveness of new training and oversight measures will require ongoing assessment.
Next Steps for Community Safety Partnerships
Engage with the Met’s independent scrutiny panels to ensure borough-specific concerns are addressed.
Support community education efforts to ensure residents, particularly young people, understand their rights and the purpose of stop and search.
Monitor the effectiveness of new measures and liaise with police to address any emerging community concerns.
This charter represents a significant shift towards more accountable and community-focused policing while maintaining stop and search as a crime prevention tool. Local authorities play a crucial role in ensuring these commitments translate into meaningful improvements in community relations and safety.
Source: Metropolitan Police – Stop and Search Charter
Cllr Mike Jack
Cllr Mark Smith
Cllr Alison Stammers
