Statement by the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime on the IOPC report into Stop and Search
Alison Lowe OBE, who is also Joint Chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) Race Disparity Working Group that fed into the report, said that it gave opportunities for crucial learning to take place.
20th April 2022
Alison Lowe OBE, who is also Joint Chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) Race Disparity Working Group that fed into the report, said that it gave opportunities for crucial learning to take place.
She added: “I was deeply saddened, but not surprised by the IOPC national stop and search learning report.
“Though the findings were depressingly familiar; evidence of race disparities in stop and search and other use of force across the board, the opportunity to change this landscape by implementing the published recommendations gives me hope.
“I am particularly struck by the positive work already being undertaken here in West Yorkshire where recommendations into the routine use and monitoring of Body Worn Video are well embedded.
“Trauma-informed training is being rolled out across the force and supervisors also actively review stop and searches from start to end including use of de-escalation, communication with the public and learning any lessons, as well as cultural competence training.
“As part of my national portfolio with the APCC Race Disparity Working Group, we will consider this report and its recommendations as part of our ongoing work to tackle race disparity and improve communities’ confidence in policing and the criminal justice system.
“We are also working closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and other organisations on the Race Inclusion Plan which we hope will also consider these recommendations carefully.
“I am keen to understand how we can develop the recommendations into use of S.163 of the Road Traffic Act, which West Yorkshire was part of the national pilot programme for in 2017, and also how we can improve our communities’ engagement in scrutinising policing for the benefit of all.
“We know that West Yorkshire Police are doing significant positive work in this area, but this report does highlight more can be done by all forces and this is a crucial step in the right direction.”