Stop and Search
As part of efforts to continuously improve services to London's communities, the MPS has reviewed stop and search policy and practice to examine ways of making its use more effective and of increasing public confidence.
MPS Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe has set a clear vision: ‘To achieve the highest level of trust and confidence in the police’s use of stop & search as a tactic for keeping our streets safe. As a consequence, the use of Stop and Search in London will become significantly more effective, have better outcomes, and be used primarily to protect our communities from violent crime.
The new approach will see a renewed focus on reducing violence and for the powers to be used in a more intelligence-led and targeted way, leading to more arrests and more weapons seized.
There will be fewer 'Section 60' authorisations, while the intelligence threshold to approve this power will be increased, ensuring there is a stronger case to grant it in the future. There will be more arrests arising from searches, and more weapons sought to help prevent violent crime. Failed searches for drugs will also be cut.
Commander Tony Eastaugh, who will be overseeing the MPS’s refreshed approach said: "Stop and Search is an important policing tactic and a deterrent to crime. We know from public attitude surveys that communities support us when it is used fairly and professionally".