Quarterly Newsletter October to December 2016 Published March 2017
Contents Introduction 3 In the news 4 Who is charge of stop and search in your area? 6 Statistics and results 7 This quarter s outcomes 11 Get involved 11 Useful contacts and information 12 Page 2
Introduction Welcome to our first newsletter updating you on stop and search news and developments from BTP. One of the highlights of the last quarter (October to December 2016) was the election of an independent chair and vice-chair to our Community Consultation Group. We welcome Ken Hinds and Beth Keeley to their new roles and look forward to working with them. You will also see updates on how many people have been out on patrol with us as part of our Police Patrol Observation Scheme, what items have been taken off the streets thanks to stop and searches, and how many positive outcomes there were as a result of the stop and searches our police officers carried out. If you would like to see the data behind the stories, you can find this at http://www.btp.police.uk/advice_and_information/stop_and_search/stop_and_search _figures.aspx We hope you find this newsletter an interesting and useful overview, and welcome our plans to regularly publish a newsletter updating you on what has happened in the previous three months. Adrian Hanstock Deputy Chief Constable Page 3
In the news We welcome new community representatives For the first time, two members of the public have been appointed as Chair and Vice- Chair of our Community Consultation Group. Chair Ken Hinds and Vice-Chair Beth Keeley now head up the group s activities, working with scrutiny panels across the country. The group and scrutiny panels examine how we carry out stop and searches (using information with personal details removed) and help us to recognise and focus on the issues that matter to the public. Ken said: I want this group to really achieve something and I believe we can, if BTP is willing to reach out to members of the community, who don t feel like the police are on their side, and start an honest dialogue. I know that most BTP officers have a lot of empathy towards the public and genuinely want to find solutions. I think now s the time to prove that. If we do all work together, we can really lead the way become the example of best practice for other police forces to follow for Stop and Search. We may not find all the answers, but if we have an open, straight forward conversation, I truly think we can make a difference towards fairer policing - and improve the community s trust in BTP. Beth said: I believe that BTP is at the forefront of policing in the UK and I consistently see respect and integrity within the Force I am aware that we need to move on and build longterm community beliefs by demonstrating BTP s willingness to make the difference that the public want to see. We welcome the opportunity to take part in stop and search scrutiny panels, which will encourage a more transparent approach, so we can work together to make intelligent, informed decisions for the future. Page 4
Engaging with young people We worked with Paul Anderson OBE, of VOYAGE (Voice of Youth and Genuine Empowerment), at an event called Over-policed and under-protected. We heard from young people who are directly affected by stop and search. We have invited young people to attend our Independent Advisory Groups and Community Consultation Groups across the country. We worked with Sulaimaan Samuel as part of his Behind the Headlines presentation. This asks young people to put themselves in the position of a victim of crime. It then goes through options available and their expectations of the police regarding stop and search. It also takes them through reasonable grounds scenarios. This workshop was delivered to young people in Leeds in December 2016. Section 60 searches Section 60 searches are where a senior officer of at least Assistant Chief Constable rank authorises stop and searches of all people in a particular area for up to 15 hours, with a possible extension up to 24 hours. This can only happen when a senior officer believes that acts of violence will occur rather than being a possibility. This authority replaces the need for reasonable grounds for each person stopped and searched, but the officer carrying out the stop and search will explain further. We accept that this power, like all stop and search powers, should only be used when necessary. We carried out no Section 60 searches between October and December 2016. In the whole of 2016, we carried out seven, all of which were authorised by an Assistant Chief Constable. Police Patrol Observation Scheme Twelve people came out on patrol with our officers as part of the Police Patrol Observation Scheme. If you re interested in coming out on patrol let us know. No stop and searches were observed by the people who joined us on patrol in this quarter. Complaints We recorded one complaint that activated the trigger related to stop and search during this period. A member of the public had been followed by plain clothed officers and was stopped and searched without what they felt was sufficient cause. After investigation by our Professional Standards Department (PSD) this was resolved at a local level. We recorded seven complaints for the whole of 2016, but we are not complacent and can assure you that we carry out a thorough investigation of every complaint. Page 5
Who is in charge of stop and search in your area? In every area of the country, we have a senior police officer who is responsible for how we carry out stop and search. Specialist Policing (A Division) Superintendent Alex Carson alex.carson@btp.pnn.police.uk London and the South East (B Division) Superintendent Chris Horton christopher.horton@btp.pnn.police.uk East Chief Inspector Nick Brandon nicholas.brandon@btp.pnn.police.uk TfL Chief Inspector Tara Doyle Tara.doyle@btp.pnn.police.uk South Chief Inspector John Justice john.justice@btp.pnn.police.uk Youth Engagement (Forcewide) Superintendent Gill Murray gillian.murray@btp.pnn.police.uk Midland, the North, South West and Wales (C Division) Superintendent Matt Allingham matthew.allingham@btp.pnn.police.uk Western Sergeant David Mannion david.mannion@btp.pnn.police.uk Midland Superintendent Sandra England sandra.england@btp.pnn.police.uk Scotland (D Division) Superintendent Dave Marshall david.marshall@btp.pnn.police.uk Pennine Superintendent Eddie Wylie eddie.wylie@btp.pnn.police.uk Wales Superintendent Andrew Morgan andrew.morgan2@btp.pnn.police.uk Page 6
Statistics and results Total number of searches and comparisons with previous quarter This October November December Quarter Total 649 278 183 188 This July August September Quarter Total 656 194 182 280 Positive outcomes Like every other force we now publish data outlining a range of outcomes rather than just arrests although these are available in the data pack. A summary of all outcomes is shown on page 11. In almost every other stop and search we carried out (49%), there was a positive outcome. These could include a summons to court, a caution, a khat or cannabis warning, a Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND) or a community resolution. It could also be where a person is wanted by the courts or another police force. Our positive outcomes show a slight improvement on the previous quarter where we had a positive outcome in 48% of cases with a very similar total number of stop and searches. The comparison of positive outcomes and total number of stop and searches with the previous quarter shows that three Sub-Divisions had increases in positive outcomes, two Sub-Divisions with a slight decrease and the remainder with decreases. There is no apparent reason for this apart from seasonal variations and relatively small numbers of searches undertaken in parts of BTP. Page 7
Positive outcomes and comparisons with previous quarter London and the South East (B Division) East of 145 searches 50% had a positive outcome compared to 106 searches and 47% positive outcome South of 170 searches 48% had a positive outcome compared to 192 searches and 49% positive outcome TfL of 79 searches 48% had a positive outcome compared to 143 searches and 38% positive outcome Midland, the North, South West and Wales (C Division) Midland of 63 searches 40% had a positive outcome compared to 46 searches and 50% positive outcome Pennine of 82 searches 56% had a positive outcome compared to 70 searches and 60% positive outcome Wales of 41 searches 51% had a positive outcome compared to 34 searches and 71% positive outcome. Western of 41 searches 56% had a positive outcome compared to 44 searches and 43% positive outcome Scotland (D Division) of 28 searches 43% had a positive outcome compared to 19 searches and 52% positive outcome Page 8
Reasonable grounds drugs compared with other powers The two charts below show the breakdown of all Subdivision reasonable ground searches this quarter and the previous quarter of July to September 2016. By reasonable grounds, we mean the legal test where the officer has a genuine suspicion in their own mind that they will find the object they are looking for and that there is an objective basis for that suspicion based on facts, information or intelligence Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) Code You can clearly see that reasonable ground searches for drugs are often substantially higher than those for other reasonable grounds. We are working to reduce this by educating our officers that smell alone is not sufficient reasonable grounds for cannabis searches. Possession of cannabis is illegal but we recognise that there is less likelihood of finding cannabis unless there are additional reasonable grounds. Subdivisions (October 2016 to December 2016) No of searches 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Subdivision reasonable grounds breakdown East South TfL Midlands Pennine Wales Western Scotland Subdivision RG-Drugs RG-Other Subdivisions (July 2016 to September 2016) 120 100 Subdivision reasonable grounds breakdown No of searches 80 60 40 RG-Drugs RG-Other 20 0 East South TfL Midlands Pennine Wales Western Scotland Subdivision Page 9
What items have we found? Through the fair, professional and effective use of stop and search, we know that we prevent violent crime or someone stealing from you. Below are some examples of items that we seized as a result of stop and searches carried out in the last three months. This hammer was recovered from a man in Birmingham. He was charged and will appear at court. These bolt croppers were found after three men were stopped and searched at Reading after police officers became suspicious that they were concealing something. The men were charged and will appear at court. This knife was found by officers working at Stratford East, in London. The man they stopped and searched was found to be wanted by another police force. He was charged with possession of a bladed article and will appear at court. Page 10
This quarter s outcomes Forcewide outcomes 1% 11% 1% 7% 1% No Further Action (51%) 331 Arrested (15%) 99 Verbal Advice (13%) 84 13% 51% Cannabis Warning (11%) 70 Report for Summons (7%) 44 Penalty Notice For Disorder (1%) 7 15% Advice (1%) 7 Local /Community Resolution (1%) 5 Street Bail (0.3%) 2 Detained Under Mental Health Act (0%) 0 Fixed Penalty Notice (0%) 0 As can be seen from the chart above, 51% of 331 stop and searches across BTP in this quarter resulted in no further action and 49% of the remainder resorted in an outcome. 15% or 99 resulted in arrest with verbal advice given in 13% or 84 cases. Cannabis warnings were given in 11% or 70 cases and 7% or 44 were reported for summons. The remaining outcomes recorded very low numbers and no fixed penalty notices (traffic offences) were recorded. No one was detained under the mental health act following a stop and search. Whilst these outcomes are for all of BTP, each Division and Subdivision mirrors the forcewide picture of outcomes. There are likely to be seasonal variations although the overall numbers of stop and searches are similar. There is no apparent reason for the variations such as an operation in a specified time and place. We are working on better ways to collate and analyse this information. Page 11
Get involved We need your help to make sure we are using stop and search in the best way possible. You can let us know what you think about our approach to stop and search, or ask to go on patrol with our police officers as part of our police patrol observation scheme (although we can t guarantee you ll see a stop and search) by emailing stopsearch@btp.pnn.police.uk or writing to us. If you want to become more involved, we d encourage you to join one of our independent community groups around the country which examine how we use stop and search and work with us to make improvements. If you d like to get involved, drop us a line at stopsearch@btp.pnn.police.uk or write to us. Useful contacts and information Contact us If you want to provide feedback or ask us a question, email stopsearch@btp.pnn.police.uk Our strategic lead is Superintendent Richard Moffatt richard.moffatt@btp.pnn.police.uk Our Inspector is T/Inspector Rob Johnson rob.johnson@btp.pnn.police.uk You can also write to us at British Transport Police, 25 Camden Road, London, NW1 9LN Find out more online BTP website btp.police.uk How to make a complaint about stop and search to BTP btp.police.uk/complaints Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) Code Search gov.uk for police and criminal evidence act Best Use of Stop and Search Scheme (BUSSS) Search gov.uk for best use of stop and search College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice for stop and search Search college.police.uk for stop and search APP Page 12