Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Stop and Search: West Midlands — [Christina Rees in the Chair]

17 November 2021 · 6 other contributors · 13,478 words

Opened by Nicola Richards Con West Bromwich East

Responding minister: Kit Malthouse

Policing & ResourcesCrime & Law Enforcement

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Nicola Richards raised concerns about stop and search: west midlands — [christina rees in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about the impact of the West Midlands police and crime commissioner's comments on stop and search practices.
  • Nicola Richards highlights a case where behavioural detection officers prevented potential harm by stopping individuals with machetes.
  • Richards urges the government to invest more in behavioural detection officers and expand internal training for effective use of stop and search.

Key requests to Government

Richards urges the government to invest more in behavioural detection officers (BDOs) and expand internal training opportunities for officers to use stop and search effectively. She calls for further engagement with scrutiny committees to promote best practices across the region.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Nicola Richards Con West Bromwich East

Nicola Richards is concerned about the impact of the West Midlands police and crime commissioner's comments on stop and search, which could undermine officers' efforts to protect communities. She highlights a case where behavioural detection officers stopped individuals carrying machetes in New Square, West Bromwich, avoiding potential harm to bystanders. She cites data from Sandwell showing 751 searches conducted with a 29.8% positive outcome rate over six months and emphasizes the use of body cameras and training programmes like GOWISELY. Richards also mentions that complaints against police officers in Sandwell regarding stop and search are few, indicating high levels of proportionality and public trust.

Other contributors (6)
  • Gary Sambrook Con Birmingham, Northfield

    Mr. Sambrook highlighted the effectiveness of stop and search in reducing crime locally, citing successful operations that led to weapons seizures and arrests. He praised local police initiatives like GOWISELY for their responsible use of powers and emphasized the importance of community collaboration through panels. He also expressed concerns about the lack of political leadership from the police and crime commissioner which he believed undermined the trust in stop and search practices. Mr Gary Sambrook suggested combining community services with fire brigade, ambulance services, and local authority hubs to reduce costs, potentially even merging roles of the police and crime commissioner into that of the mayor for efficiency.

  • Holly Lynch Lab Wigan

    She supported evidence-based and intelligence-based stop and search, noting that only 3% of searches resulted in the discovery of an offensive weapon. She highlighted the increase in violent crime and possession of weapons, calling for a more efficient policy focusing on taking weapons off the streets while building community policing.

  • Jack Dromey Lab Birmingham, Erdington

    Discussed the importance of stop and search in combating violent crime, emphasizing its appropriateness. Highlighted the loss of over 20,000 police officers since 2010 due to funding cuts, leading to a decline in neighbourhood policing and an increase in knife crime by 17% and possession of weapons by 28%. Called for fair funding for the West Midlands Police Service. Emphasised that additional resources beyond what the Government have committed are needed according to the Police Federation and other authorities. Questioned whether political games should be played when crime rates have risen in areas with fewer police. Asked Khalid Mahmood if he would join fellow MPs to make representations to the government about reversing police service cuts since 2010 which have led to rising crime rates.

  • Khalid Mahmood Lab Birmingham, Perry Barr

    Stop and search is a necessary but weak tool on its own. More police officers and community support officers are needed to provide the intelligence that stops crime before it happens. Rob Capella in Mahmood's constituency has built trust with his local community but lacks resources. The PCC explained difficulties in policing without additional support, leading to tense situations when stop and search is used. Will the Minister give way?

  • Mike Wood Con Kingswinford and South Staffordshire

    Asked how the hon. Gentleman interprets parts of the police and crime commissioner's plan, particularly where it states that stop and search does little to tackle crime, and inquires about the measure of 'reasonable grounds' being whether at least 50% of stop and searches result in further action. Mr Mike Wood expressed concern about the language used by the police and crime commissioner in his crime plan for 2021 to 2025, which he fears could send a signal of caution to officers that discourages them from using stop and search powers appropriately. He highlighted that stop and search remains a vital tool for combating serious violence and keeping people safe, but it is crucial that the power is used proportionately without discrimination. As the hon. Lady said, there has been an increase in crime in the west midlands with violence with injury offences up 10% on the previous year. He asked what her police force is doing better than West Midlands police.

  • Steve McCabe Lab Birmingham, Selly Oak

    Asked how many police officers and staff are required to resource basic local police stations, questioning the efficiency of current station setups. McCabe criticised Conservative Members for selective amnesia regarding stop and search policies. He highlighted the former Home Secretary's intervention in 2014 that led to a reduction of 600,000 recorded stop-and-search exercises, resulting in an increase in knife crime. McCabe also questioned the credibility of claims about public trust in Labour's stance on police matters.

Government Response

Kit Malthouse

I thank Ms Rees for presiding over the debate and commend the police officers tackling crime in the west midlands. Project Guardian is now active, aiming to address concerns raised by MPs. The Government prioritises reducing crime numbers. Operation Sceptre has been mentioned as a national programme of weeks of intensification against knife crime. I defend stop and search, highlighting its effectiveness in saving lives and preventing violence. In 2008, under my leadership in London, we reduced teenage killings from 29 to eight by 2012 through assertive use of stop and search. This tactic deters individuals from carrying knives, making them less likely to be victims or perpetrators. I urge all parts of the country with violence issues to utilise stop and search judiciously but recognise its importance. Understanding data on stop and search is key; transparency and community consent are critical for success. Liverpool's approach to handling stop and search was praised as an example of best practice. We need political leadership and police-political cooperation to ensure legitimacy in the eyes of communities affected by knife crime. The west midlands' actions, including those by the police and crime commissioner, aim to save lives and build neighbourhood safety. I address funding formula commitments for improving police officer numbers across England and Wales before the next election. Police and crime commissioners have made decisions over the past decade affecting current force positions; we must accept this responsibility.

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