Interesting Fact - The Law

According to a report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary 1.2 million stop and search incidents take place every year in the UK.

(The problem is that more than a quarter of them are unlawful: Either the paperwork has been filled out improperly, or no clear reason given for the procedure.

Stop and search, is the term used for when a police officer stops you and asks you what you’re doing and why you’re in an area and/or where you’re going.

A police officer in the UK also has the power to stop and search you if they have ‘reasonable grounds’ to suspect you’re carrying:

• illegal drugs
• a weapon
• stolen property
• something which could be used to commit a crime, e.g. a crowbar

The fact is, according to the same report, only 9% lead to an arrest, and that search-to-arrest ratio varies from 3% in Cumbria, to 7% the West Midlands, and 8% in Manchester and London, where most stop-and-
searches take place.

An even worse statistic is that black people are seven times more likely to be searched on the street than white people.)

Stop and search in the UK.