House of Commons · Westminster Hall
12 March 2025 · 9 other contributors · 10,501 words
Opened by Saqib Bhatti Con Meriden and Solihull East
Responding minister: Dame Diana Johnson
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Saqib Bhatti raised concerns about use of stop and search in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key points
Key requests to Government
Calls for more stop and search powers to prevent violent crimes and save lives, suggesting a focus on high-risk areas with legitimate support from local people.
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
The year ending September 2024 saw a 12% increase in knife-enabled crime. The West Midlands police area recorded the highest rate of knife crime offences with 180 per 100,000 population, up from 167 in 2022. Several tragic incidents such as the death of Jack Donoghue and Reuben Higgins have highlighted the devastating impact of knife crime on families and communities.
Addressed the disproportionate use of stop and search on certain communities and highlighted the importance of fair and effective use of powers.
Welcomed the £1 billion policing settlement for the coming year, emphasising the need to rebuild neighbourhood policing while ensuring other aspects of policing remain unaffected. Also mentioned the Metropolitan police's stop-and-search charter and its emphasis on respect, training, supervision, and oversight.
Supports stop and search as a way to ensure public safety in Northern Ireland, citing recent statistics showing a decrease in crime levels. Discussed the experience of Northern Ireland regarding stop and search and its impact on reducing crime.
Asked about mixed messages from the Conservative Government regarding stop and search, highlighting changes in policy between different periods. He urges caution in interpreting UK figures on disproportionality, suggesting that they may be misleading due to the concentration of ethnic minorities in urban areas where stop and search is more common. He also argues that the vast majority of officers conduct stop and searches appropriately.
Provided insights from his experience as a former police officer, adding to the debate's richness.
She congratulates the hon. Member for Meriden and Solihull East on securing a debate on police stop and search powers, highlighting its importance in addressing issues of community trust and effective policing practices.
Mr Vickers emphasised the importance of ensuring that police have the power and freedom to effectively protect the public by conducting stop and search when they believe individuals pose a danger. He highlighted statistics showing 16,066 stop and searches resulting in the seizure of offensive weapons or firearms.
The use of stop and search powers is a critical tool for law enforcement, but it must be used responsibly. We need to ensure that the data collected reflects its true effectiveness in tackling crime while minimising any negative impacts on communities.
Acknowledged the disparity in stop and search statistics but emphasized the importance of targeted approaches to ensure community trust. Offered to work with the Minister to change guidance to support police officers.
Government Response
Dame Diana JohnsonThe Minister for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention
Acknowledged the concerns raised about stop and search and its impact on community relations. Emphasised the importance of restoring police confidence to use their powers effectively while maintaining public trust. Highlighted the reduction in knife-enabled robbery figures in the West Midlands, noting that data is going in the right direction. Pledged to continue learning from different regions and countries to address crime issues. In the majority of forces across England and Wales, the total number of searches conducted has risen for the last two years in a row; the Government cautiously welcomes the fact that disparities in the use of stop and search have fallen in recent years from black people being over nine times more likely to be stopped and searched than white people five years ago to 3.7 times more likely recently. The Government backs the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s police race action plan, which aims to foster anti-racist culture, values and behaviours in policing that will inform all operational policing practices, improving experiences and outcomes for black people. On stop and search in particular, the plan commits chief constables to identifying and addressing stop-and-search disparities, particularly on drug searches and the searches of children. The Home Office is introducing new data collection on section 60 from April including on authorisation decisions and locations authorised, which will help improve transparency and accountability for the use of this power.