Green party

Stop and Search 'ineffective' police tool

21 October 2007

INCREASED STOP AND SEARCH OF BME GROUPS NOT THE WAY FORWARD

The Green Party today criticised Keith Jarrett of the Black Police Association's call for increased stop and searches of young people, and so the black community, to reduce gun and knife crime. (1)

Shane Collins, Lambeth and Southwark GLA candidate said:

"Stop and Search is an ineffective police tool, leading to arrest and charge in only 5 per cent of stops, the remaining 95 per cent of stop and searches lead to further alienation between BME communities and the police. The police need support, co-operation and information from young people in particular, to defeat gun and knife crime and the class A drug trade.

"Stop and search should be based on intelligence, not trawling through age and ethnic profiles as seems to be the case at the moment. Unintelligent use of stop and search leads to to distrust, resentment, alienation and a low arrest rate. We hope Mr Jarrett's comments do not represent the Black Police Association (BPA), and when Mr. Jarrett steps down next week the BPA will make their position clear.

"However we need to recognise the motor for most gun and knife crime is the drug trade. We would start by taking the cannabis trade away from teenage gangs and allowing regulated 'cannabis cafes' with clear information on strength and a strict age limit. We would allow GP's to prescribe heroin to addicts as a gateway into a range of consensual treatments, thus undercutting illegal heroin dealers. These policies will cut gun and knife crime, more ineffective stop and searches will not."

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

(1) news.bbc.co.uk

Shane Collins is the Green Party drugs spokesperson and a board member of the Lambeth Community Police Consultative Group.

Further information: 0208 671 5936 / 07952 929 710

Green Party Press Office020 7561 0282www.greenparty.org.uk

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