Stop and Search
Superintendent Olisa
Welcome to the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Stop and Search website.
Thank you for visiting the site to find out about stop and search and
how we use these important powers.
I hope that as well as finding the site informative and useful, you will feedback your views on how well we are using the powers to keep the streets of London safe.
Stop and Search is an important policing tactic and method of engaging with people in Londoner that allows us to maintain order and create the conditions that allow the public to go about their daily business in safety.
In addition to using the tactic to create safety on our streets, is our aim to use the powers in the right way that is to the satisfaction of those stopped. Also, we will use the powers for the right reasons and at the right locations, to enhance the confidence of the public.
Stop and Search has been used productively as a key part of Operation Blunt 2 to deal with concerning levels of personal violence where offensive weapons are used. This specific use in addition to the general use of stop and search are supported by the public. However, we are aware that when the public is uninformed about why we are using the powers extensively in certain locations, and at the same time there is the perception that the powers are being used unfairly, this has led to some mistrust of police.
The MPS and Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) want to ensure that at all times officers use stop and search professionally, fairly and appropriately to the satisfaction of all those stopped and that overall the powers are used effectively and efficiently with the full confidence and support/satisfaction of the public.
Stop and search is important to the MPS and MPA and we believe it is important to you also. For this reason, we would ask you to work with us, directly by working with Stop and Search monitoring groups where you live, study or work, or indirectly by feeding back your views on the information we produce on our website, which will help us continue to use these powers to your satisfaction and confidence. We want you to;
· Be the voice that to tells us when we are not using the powers the
way we say we would; fairly and effectively
· Feed back your support and concerns to enable us to continue to learn
from our extensive use of the powers
· Maintain a challenging dialogue with us to guide our development of
stop and search into a community engagement process rather being viewed
as a confrontational police tactic.
The MPS is currently considering significant proposals to reduce the bureaucracy associated with the recording of stops, which some sections of the public are concerned could reduce the level of accountability. There is ongoing consultation in order to ensure these decisions are well informed. These are important discussions that will lead to important decisions on the future of Stop and Search.
Let us know what you think, have your say and work with us to ensure
that we continue to use the powers to the satisfaction of Londoners to
create safety in our streets.