NCJ Number
180401
Date Published
1999
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The aim of this "Briefing Note" is to describe the findings of the scoping study intended to determine how British police forces have started to examine and improve the use of stop-and-search tactics under current British law; it also reports on the national pilot programs that have sought to implement the recommendations of the Macpherson Inquiry (1999), which examined police stop-and-search tactics.
Abstract
The scoping study was based on a sample of forces identified by the Policing and Reducing Crime Unit and the Home Office Operational Policing Policy Unit as having undertaken interesting work on stop-and-search. This review categorizes the various approaches adopted by forces in five areas: managerial effectiveness, operation effectiveness, recording practices, officers' knowledge of the tactic, and the wider community impact of stop-and-search. It was apparent from the scoping study that sample forces have attempted to improve the management of stop-and-search. Although a range of approaches have been tried, most of the efforts have focused on introducing monitoring systems, supervising stop-and-search forms, developing intelligence-led strategies, improving recording practices, officer training, and the wider community impact of stop and search. Forces might develop strategies for managing officers who have not used stop-and-search properly or fairly; and forces should consider what stop-and-search training is needed and how best to deliver it. Early findings show that officer knowledge of stop-and-search was limited and that training was delivered most effectively at the local level. 6 references