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Police officers carry out a ‘stop and search’ while on patrol in Camden Town |
Police ‘stop and search’ powers mean safer streets for everyone
Being stopped by police may seem like an invasion of civil liberties, but it’s better than having people die on our streets, writes Johnny Bucknell
STOP and search is the power given to the police to stop anyone they believe to be acting suspiciously and search through their pockets and bags. It has been cited as the most powerful weapon the police have in the fight against crime. However, it is also the most controversial.
The police will never forget the events of April 10, 1981. Brixton was a deprived area with a huge number of unemployed black people and a high crime rate. The police had just completed Operation Swamp, which involved stopping and searching 1,000 youths under the old SUS (Suspicion) laws.
Relations with the police were at rock bottom and a minor incident provoked 5,000 people to take part in a riot that took 2,500 police to bring back under control.
The next setback was branding the police as “institutionally racist” after the Stephen Lawrence murder.
The police were terrified about being branded as racist, they stopped searching people and the crime rate started climbing to alarming levels.
I was originally told that someone almost had to be caught red-handed committing a crime before the police could search them. I then discovered that the police could actually stop someone for the slightest excuse.
Ever since then I have been lobbying the police to use their stop and search powers but be impeccably polite at all times. Being impeccably polite at all times can be a tough challenge, especially if the last person you arrested was drunk abusive and violent.
At the height of the mayoral elections in May 2008 the knife killings were out of control.
Ken Livingstone responded with “If it leads it bleeds” – blaming the press for highlighting the problem.
Boris Johnson pledged to act, with his leaflet citing the problem of 27 knife killings.
Shortly after being elected Mayor Johnson announced Operation Blunt Two. This meant that if the police thought there was the possibility of an incident they could serve a section 60 notice and stop and search people in an area without reason.
The number of stops went to record levels and the crime rate has started falling.
The opponents of stop and search are vocal in their dissent.
They argue that it is an invasion of civil liberties to have the police rifle though a young person’s pockets, often finding nothing. The long-term solution is that there should be more for young people to do.
They have a point and Boris is acting on this.
I would not dispute that stop and search is a reactive measure, but there are no civil liberties for the youths who have lost their lives as a result of knife crime.
We rarely hear the words the words “parental responsibility” and I would like to see greater involvement of aunts, uncles and grandparents who may be able to offer support to families when relationships are fractious.
In the interim, all the statistics suggest the crime rate has dropped like a stone.
I have been a civilian observer on four occasions. The police were polite and all the people searched were ambivalent. A few stops even ended with the police striking up a jovial rapport with the youths.
My view is that the best method is to have a van full of police patrol known crime spots looking for gangs. Every now and again they can go for a walkabout on the beat.
If the youths give a reason for being on the streets they should not be stopped. At the end of search where noting has been found, the police should apologise for detaining the person and wish them a pleasant evening.
I believe that in Camden we have the best police force in the country, compared with the ham-fisted rudeness that I have encountered with other police forces.
Everyone is holding their breath to see if another knife death will occur but if the police can continue with “stop and search with a smile”, Boris Johnson will have made London a safer place to live.
If any youth has had an unpleasant experience as a result of a stop and search can they please contact me.
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