Improving the conduct of stop and search Dr Paul Quinton, NPIA Prof Betsy Stanko, Metropolitan Police Cmdr Tony Eastaugh, Metropolitan Police

Improving stop and search? Legitimacy Effectiveness FairnessLawfulness

Stop and search levels Source: Bradford m S&S encounters

Stop and search arrest rates Source: Bradford 2012

Improving effectiveness? Limited & inconclusive evidence Arrest rate from PACE searches = 9%  S&S numbers =  arrest rate At force level, there is no association between S&S rates & crime rates Focused policing activity in crime hot spots can reduce crime Would better targeted S&S be more effective? Would it affect fairness?

Improving lawfulness? Code A focuses on how to conduct a S&S, not when Reasonable suspicion is elastic & difficult to define The same standard is required for an arrest But observational research suggests some searches are based on weak grounds Possible reasons? –Officer discretion & low visibility to supervisors –The law not reflecting the realities of policing –Decision-making based on practical rules-of-thumb –The specificity of suspect descriptions & intelligence briefings –Traditional class room based training –Few consequences

Improving fairness? Qualitative research suggests the public’s support for S&S is conditional on: –how S&S is used & targeted by the police –the attitudes & behaviour of the officers involved –the reasons for S&S being valid, genuine & credible Negative experiences were more common than positive experiences & more easily remembered Key issues for the public: –Experience of officers being patronising, arrogant, aggressive & intimidating –Not being given a reason for an encounter –Feeling unfairly targeted

Why is fairness important? Experiences of policing shape public motivations to cooperate with police & not break the law Fair decision-making & respectful treatment can enhance police legitimacy, which helps to: –build a sense of shared values –make people feel valued by & part of society –create a sense of obligation & responsibility Unfair treatment sends out a clear message… Our rules do not apply to you – you’re not a valued member of society!

Legitimacy Why is fairness important? Risk of sanction Moral alignment with police Compliance & cooperation Trust in police effectiveness Trust in police fairness Personal morality Obligation to obey

Legitimacy Why is fairness important? Risk of sanction Moral alignment with police Compliance & cooperation Trust in police effectiveness Trust in police fairness Personal morality Obligation to obey

Legitimacy Why is fairness important? Risk of sanction Moral alignment with police Compliance & cooperation Trust in police effectiveness Trust in police fairness Personal morality Obligation to obey

Legitimacy Why is fairness important? Risk of sanction Moral alignment with police Compliance & cooperation Trust in police effectiveness Trust in police fairness Personal morality Obligation to obey

Legitimacy Why is fairness important? Risk of sanction Moral alignment with police Compliance & cooperation Trust in police effectiveness Trust in police fairness Personal morality Obligation to obey

Legitimacy Why is fairness important? Risk of sanction Moral alignment with police Compliance & cooperation Trust in police effectiveness Trust in police fairness Personal morality Obligation to obey

Legitimacy National survey results Risk of sanction Moral alignment with police Compliance & cooperation Trust in police effectiveness Trust in police fairness Personal morality Obligation to obey

The impact of S&S on trust Types of contactQuality of contactEffect on trust in police fairness Police-initiatedPositiveNeutral Negative Public-initiatedPositiveSlightly positive Negative The effect of police contact on trust is asymmetrical Bad contact is very bad Good contact is only a little bit good (at best)

The bottom line By making fair decisions, explaining them & being respectful, the police can encourage people to be more socially responsible This is not just about being nice! Fair encounters may not be enough – legacy issues & the volume of police contact There are significant risks of being unfair ‘Trust arrives on foot & leave on horseback’ What goes around, comes around – fairness at work

What might help? There are significant gaps in the evidence base Robust studies are needed to find out ‘what works’ A newly formed NPIA / MPS collaboration to test an intervention aimed at improving the conduct of S&S –Scripted encounters?  Queensland random breath test experiment –Practice based & reflective learning?  Chicago quality interaction training experiment  GMP / NPIA victim contact training experiment –More active supervision? –Better targeting towards crime hot spots?