Police stop and search set to be slashed

There has been a mixed reception to The Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe's plans of reforming stop and search tactics in London.

Hogan-Howe wants to overhaul the policy in an effort to improve relations with Black and Minority Ethnic communities. There are also plans for Section 60 orders, which permit random stop and searches across wide areas, to be cut in half.

The issue of race and the relationship between the Black community and the authorities was back in the spotlight following the conviction of two men for the murder of Stephen Lawrence. It took nearly two decades for the Lawrence family to get some kind of justice for their loss. But in the past 20 years, not much has changed, with the Black community continuing to feel they are deliberately targeted by the police.

Shocking statistics show that Black people were 26 times more likely to be stopped and searched than the white community. Another statistic shows that less than 10 per cent of stop and searches lead to arrest.

Hogan-Howe has signed off "implementation of a new approach which will see a dedicated, experienced central team lead a wide range of changes affecting every element of stop and search with the aim of improving policy, practice and performance across the board", the Met said in a statement.

"This new approach will see a renewed focus on reducing violence, as this is one of the key issues communities tell us they want us to tackle, as well as an enhancement of our intelligence-led targeting," a statement said. "We will aim to be more effective by increasing positive outcomes across key categories from arrest rates to seizures of weapons."

John Wadham, of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, welcomed the new approach. "We are pleased the force intends to change its practices, so that fewer people are stopped without good reason - breaching their human rights," he said.

Some see the new measures as a knee-jerk reaction by the Met following the riots which blighted parts of London and other cities in England in August. But this has been denied by Commander Tony Eastaugh, who is overseeing the Met's new approach. He insists the quality of the encounter between the suspect and officer was "absolutely key".

While the Met has made strong statements and a commitment to improve relations with the Black community, words are nothing without action.

Speaking to the Evening Standard, Althea Smith, vice chairwoman of the Southwark community police consultative group, said: "I think this is good but we will wait and see if officers deliver on these promises."