The truth about Stop and Search

Each month about 1 in 100 males is Stopped and Searched compared to 1 in 2000 females. Last year 1 in 10 black Hackney residents were stopped and searched compared to 1 in 27 whites. (according to the Stop and Search Legal Project Fact Sheet) Hardly surprising then that as a white female I have never been stopped, but last Thursday at the ReachOut! Academy, along with the young people in Year 11 and their mentors, I found out what it’s like to be stopped by the police.

A team of volunteers including lawyers from Hodge Jones & Allen and Peters & Peters and a volunteer from City Year held a workshop organised by Stop and Search Legal Project (SSLP) to educate ReachOut!’s young people about the laws surrounding Stop and Search.

•          Can the police Stop and Search you in your friend’s front yard?
•          Do you have to give them your name and address?
•          Can they ask you to remove more than just your outer layer of clothing?

The answer to all of the above is NO however many ReachOut! mentors and young people were not aware of this, which is exactly why the SSLP exists. Although the police represent the law, the team from SSLP want young people to understand their own rights in a Stop and Search situation.

Following a discussion about what the police can / can’t and should / might do, some of the young people and mentors took part in a role play in which four teenagers were stopped by two policemen on their way home from a geography field trip.

“Simon” refused to be searched, was manhandled and searched by “PC Harris” anyway. “Devon” swore at “PC Bloggs”, ran away, was rugby tackled to the ground and arrested. “Amy” was stroppy but stayed put and didn’t get searched (the only girl in the group) whilst “Tunde” calmly answered the questions and took down the number on the shoulder badge of “PC Harris” and was sent on his way.

Not difficult to see the benefits of cooperation here.

But. Should the police be allowed to Stop and Search us in the first place? A judges panel made up of five mentors and mentees heard some interesting point for and against stop and search from the floor. Y11 mentee Uche argued that it is necessary to deter people from carrying drugs and weapons, and for people to feel safe in their communities, whilst Shae insisted that it is racist and a waste of police time since only 11% of Stop and Searches in Hackney last year actually resulted in arrests, when the police could have been attending to crimes actually taking place in the area.

Mentors and mentees give the verdict on Stop and Search

After some deliberation, the panel voted unanimously AGAINST Stop and Search. What do you think? Leave a comment and tell us your views.

Fran Blackwell
Programme Manager
London

For more information about Stop and Search check out http://stopandsearchlegalproject.wordpress.com/

What should I do if I am stopped by police for a search?  Some advice from SSLP:

Be calm and stay in control, remember you are not under arrest.

Don’t refuse to be stopped and searched.

If the officer has followed the rules and explained the reason the process is not voluntary – the law gives police the authority to stop and search.

If you believe you have been treated unfairly you should get a copy of the search record from the policeman which will allow you / your guardian to make a complaint.

If you are arrested following a Stop and Search get a solicitor – this is very important and free.