Police stop-search ‘disproportionate’ (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Police stop-search ‘disproportionate’
11:00am Thursday 18th March 2010 in
BLACK people are four times more likely than those who are white or Asian to be stopped and searched by police in Wiltshire, new research claims.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has detailed the stop and search rate for each police force area in England and Wales – and highlighted those that were disproportionately using their powers.
The review into 42 policing areas during the past five years has found that few police forces have made improvements.
But most continue to use their stop and search powers disproportionately against black and Asian people.
The figures show Wiltshire made 148 excess stop and searches of black people in 2007/2008.
Swindon divisional commander Paul Howlett said: “The figure has actually dropped from previous years but there is no room for discrimination in policing.
“Swindon Police work hard to police in the correct way and not disproportionately in a diverse and vibrant community.”
Nationally, black people are still stopped and searched at least six times as of white people.
People of Asian origin are about twice as likely to be stopped and searched as white people.
The evidence suggests racial stereotyping and discrimination are significant factors behind the higher rates of stops and searches for black and Asian people than white people.
Commissioner Simon Woolley, of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said: “It is time that we saw real improvement in these statistics.
“It is not enough for the police simply to launch new initiatives if those initiatives don’t produce results. There is little evidence to suggest that targeting black people disproportionately with stop and search powers reduces crime.
“This report shows evidence that police forces, like Staffordshire and Cleveland, which have used fairer stop and search tactics, have not only seen reductions in crimes rates in line with overall trends, but have also increased public confidence in the police.”
Comments(16)
Bobfm
says...
12:21pm Thu 18 Mar 10
politicrat
says...
12:46pm Thu 18 Mar 10
"black people are still stopped and searched at least six times as of white people. and People of Asian origin are about twice as likely to be stopped and searched as white people"
what is the National proportion of Blacks and Asians in the overall UK population? 2% for blacks & 4% for asians however their representation in the inmates population is 12% for Blacks vs 2%, and 3% Asians vs 4%
I let you make your own minds on the Equality and Human Rights Commission conclusion.
PK
says...
12:47pm Thu 18 Mar 10
reality_check
says...
12:53pm Thu 18 Mar 10
PARKSOUTH PETE
says...
2:01pm Thu 18 Mar 10
Robh
says...
4:10pm Thu 18 Mar 10
You cannot ignore that council estates are generally more likely to house criminals.
We can only progress if we recognise and accept the facts otherwise extremist views will prevail.
PK
says...
4:32pm Thu 18 Mar 10
Robh wrote:Err, not recently Robh.
Facts are facts and you cannot ignore them just because it seems unfair. If black people are 6 times or more likeley to commit a criminal act than white people then you should not ignore that.
You cannot ignore that council estates are generally more likely to house criminals.
We can only progress if we recognise and accept the facts otherwise extremist views will prevail.
For example, most of the major drugs busts recently have come from private houses not in council estates.
The huge cannabis farm that was found over in Liden a couple of years back was in a very nice (expensive) house in the exclusive private estate.
Probably the reasoning behind these criminals was that the police are less likely to look closely at a private housing estate than they are at a council estate.
I think it would be fair to say that both nowadays are blighted by criminal elements.
Robh
says...
4:36pm Thu 18 Mar 10
PK wrote:I did say criminals not crime. You usually don't dirty your own patch.
Robh wrote: Facts are facts and you cannot ignore them just because it seems unfair. If black people are 6 times or more likeley to commit a criminal act than white people then you should not ignore that. You cannot ignore that council estates are generally more likely to house criminals. We can only progress if we recognise and accept the facts otherwise extremist views will prevail.Err, not recently Robh. For example, most of the major drugs busts recently have come from private houses not in council estates. The huge cannabis farm that was found over in Liden a couple of years back was in a very nice (expensive) house in the exclusive private estate. Probably the reasoning behind these criminals was that the police are less likely to look closely at a private housing estate than they are at a council estate. I think it would be fair to say that both nowadays are blighted by criminal elements.
Bobfm
says...
7:30pm Thu 18 Mar 10
1. The Council would take a dim view of tenants sub letting :)
2. On a council estate it would be a secret for very long.
itsamess
says...
9:16pm Thu 18 Mar 10
Figures rarely represent the truth. I am more concerned at the very clear rise in immigants in this town as the eyes do not deceive. I--like many do not understand why in recent years so many foreign nationals are living in Swindon in bed-sits and shared housing that clearly have no automatic right to settle here. I do mean those from non EU countries. Mostly working in the fast food industry and agencies and with little or no capability to speak English.
Captain Sensible
says...
5:43am Fri 19 Mar 10
politicrat
says...
8:19am Fri 19 Mar 10
itsamess wrote:you need to ask Tony Blair! he was the one that absolutely wanted countries of the Eastern Bloc to join the EU as a way to dilute the power of the Franco-German axis. Retrospectively, it was the wrong.
Politicrat Figures rarely represent the truth. I am more concerned at the very clear rise in immigants in this town as the eyes do not deceive. I--like many do not understand why in recent years so many foreign nationals are living in Swindon in bed-sits and shared housing that clearly have no automatic right to settle here. I do mean those from non EU countries. Mostly working in the fast food industry and agencies and with little or no capability to speak English.
Secondly, Tony Blair and his governement didnt set strict immigration rules (like in France or Germany) for the new comers and so when the gates opened they flooded to the destination that was the most attractive in terms of benefits, jobs and ease of stay, namely the UK.
I would question this point very seriously, why did Tony Blair let uncontrolled and massive immigration waves hit Britain? could it be social and political engineering, trying to dilute the old christian and anglosaxon heritages in order to create a multicultural society more inclined to vote progressists Labour than tradionalists Tories?
I leave that to you to work out and act upon.
Bobfm
says...
9:54am Fri 19 Mar 10
I guess given that they got a third term against all the odds perhaps that view was valid.
itsamess
says...
7:50pm Fri 19 Mar 10
daproofreader
says...
9:44am Sat 20 Mar 10
Bobfm wrote:http://www.dailymail
It has long been said that Labour allowed unfettered immigration from the EU because those likely to come to Britain would then vote Labour.
I guess given that they got a third term against all the odds perhaps that view was valid.
.co.uk/news/article-
1252926/Chris-Grayli
ng-criticised-Labour
s-Phil-Woolas-secret
-immigration-plans.h
tml
Does that answer your question Bob ?
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Bobfm says...
12:11pm Thu 18 Mar 10
Or do you stop and search everyone in a particular age group to be seen to be fair.
Take as an extreme example. An old lady is attacked by a 6 feet, white blond guy with pink streaks in his hair. Now do you target 6 foot white blond guys or every 6 feet male.
On this one the please are dammed if they do and dammed if they don't.