Presentation to Westminster Briefing: Future of Stop and Search event delivered by IPCC Commissioner Jennifer Izekor

1. Stop and Search &
the Police Complaints System
Presentation to Westminster Briefing: Future of Stop and Search event
(23 September 2014)
Jennifer Izekor
IPCC Commissioner

2. Why we are involved
• Important issue for stakeholders, especially
BME communities and young people.
• Impacts significantly on confidence.
• Evidence of misuse/disproportionality.
• Questions about effectiveness/impact.
• Low numbers of complaints.
• Potential to share good practice.

3. How we are involved
• Complaints.
• Appeals.
• Stakeholder engagement.
• Oversight and confidence work.

4. What we have done
• Fed into guidance and training.
• Fed into HMIC inspections.
• Fed into consultations on stop and search.
• Engagement with ACPO, forces, stakeholders.
• Involvement in Public Encounters Board.
• Attendance at community meetings.
• Events with young people/other stakeholders.

5. What young people told us
• Most people don’t know how to complain.
• Process is too complicated, takes too long.
• No trust or faith in the system.
• Fear won’t be believed.
• Fear of police harassment or intimidation.
• Fear that police won’t help them in future.
• Think that complaining is not worthwhile.

6. The IPCC stop and search
position statement
• Lawful.
• Fair.
• Effective.
• Carries public confidence.

7. What a good system would
look like
• It would be simple, accessible and quick.
• Community engagement.
• More visibility/promotion of system.
• Less need for contact with the police.
• Training for Investigating Officers on how to recognise
bias and discrimination.
• Complaints would be more involved in process.
• Robust quality control measures.
• More use of technology – apps, online.

8. Future
• Revision of our stop and search position.
• Ongoing work to improve complaint handling.
• Revision of discrimination guidelines.
• More investigations into serious/sensitive cases.
• Increasing oversight and confidence work.
• Holding forces to account on use of best use of
stop and search scheme.
• Ongoing work with HMIC, the College, ACPO.

9. www.ipcc.gov.uk

10. www.ipcc.gov.uk