Stop and search ‘vital tool’ against knife crime, police minister says

Police Minister Chris Philp called on the force to step up its use of stop and search as part of a “robust approach” to tackling knife crime. Writing for the Daily Telegraph, Mr Philp described stop and search as a “vital tool” which is “not used often enough”.

“Police must use the powers at their disposal without fear or favour,” he wrote ahead of a week of action on knife crime. “I want to see them take a robust approach and that starts with increasing the use of stop and frisk.

“So often these crimes stem from non-violent incidents that escalate when knives are carried in public. It is illegal to be in possession of a knife in public without reasonable excuse and stop and search is the best way to enforce this.”

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The use of stop and search was reduced after then Home Secretary Theresa May scaled back the powers amid fears that black people were disproportionately targeted, restrictions which have since been eased.

In December, an investigation into the use of so-called suspicion-free section 60 stop and search powers by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Police and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS), the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and the College by the Police. (CoP) found that forces may “recognise the effects of disproportionality on people and communities” but “do not take this matter seriously enough”.

“In the current climate, stop and frisk policing is the best way forward, we know that,” Mr Philp said. “What we can’t do is use these tiptoe powers for the purpose of appeasement. The first priority must always be prevention and public safety.”

“Of course, we need safeguards to ensure that these powers are used properly. There are measures in place to protect the public from unnecessary searches and disproportionate use among certain groups.”

Saying that stop and search had led to almost 300,000 arrests since 2019, he welcomed Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley’s commitment to increase its use and called on other forces to follow suit.

“I want to see this commitment nationwide,” he said. “We should leave people in no doubt that carrying a knife is an offense and could lead to up to four years in prison.

“I want to reassure the public that we have updated stop and search safeguards to build trust between the police and local communities.”