Improved use of stop and search will aid public confidence
Police Federation of England and Wales
Police Federation of England and Wales welcomes HMIC recommendations around stop and search powers and accountability.
Stop and search is an essential tool in operational policing, according to Alex Duncan, Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales’ Professional Standards Committee.
Reacting to the report today (Thursday 22 September) from HMIC, he said:
“When it is properly used, stop and search is an essential tool for operational policing as it disrupts and detects criminal activity, such as knife crime and the proliferation of Class A drugs. Criminals should be on the back foot and worried that they could be stopped, searched and arrested otherwise they will act with impunity.
“We welcome the HMIC recommendation that officers of Inspector rank and higher should be empowered to authorise stop and search – clearly this would only be used in exceptional circumstances when a chief officer is not available and there is an urgent operational need.
“At the same time we police with public consent so it is right and proper that we are able to account for our use of stop and search. We are pleased that HMIC has recommended minimum standards of data should be recorded. This has to be welcomed as a way of increasing public confidence.”
