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Our latest blog posts

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  Driving While Black: Stopwatch and Liberty call for an end to discriminatory policing on our roads

  StopWatch, 14 Dec 2017

  Today StopWatch and Liberty are releasing ‘Driving While Black,’ a new report which raises concerns that not only are drivers targeted because they are Black, but a new offence and search powers, which would tie road traffic policing to immigration enforcement, will increase the incentive for racial profiling. Read more »

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  Stop and search may be down, but ethnic disproportionality is increasing

  StopWatch, 26 Oct 2017

  New figures released by the Home Office today show that stop and search continues to be targeted at low level drug possession rather than weapons, and that despite major reforms racial and ethnic disproportionality is increasing. In welcome news, the number of stop and searches has fallen 21% from last year to 303, 845 in 2016-17. The lowest level since 2002, when current recording practices began. Read more »

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  Letter to The Times

  StopWatch, 14 Aug 2017

  Read our letter to The Times, published 12.8.17, in response to their article (9.8.17) which wrongly claimed criminologists blamed the reduction in the numbers of stop and search for the increase to police recorded knife-related crime. Read more »

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  StopWatch and Release’s response to the Home Office’s proposed revised ‘Best Use of Stop and Search’

  StopWatch, 9 Aug 2017

  The Best Use of Stop and Search Scheme (BUSSS) obligates forces to make stop and search more transparent, to record and publish more data on the police power, and improve community engagement. The Home Office have conducted a 9 month review of BUSSS and recently released a revised version for consultation but only allowed 3 weeks for comments to be submitted, severely limiting response from campaign and community groups. It is apparent to StopWatch and Release the poor treatment of campaign and community groups received by the Home Office cannot be regarded as an inclusive and extensive public consultation. Read more »

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  Most ‘stop and search’ is ineffective and fails communities worst affected by knife crime

  StopWatch, 24 Jul 2017

  Read our press release on the latest police recorded crime figures for 2016/17 that report violent crime has increased. Many senior police officials have called for more stop and search, but research shows that the tactic is largely ineffective and often used unfairly and sometimes unlawfully. Targeted use of stop and search may have a role to play in reducing knife crime and serious violence, but can only ever be a small part of the solution. StopWatch calls for alternative approaches, where police work with local communities, especially young people, to create safe and peaceful communities in ways that protect fundamental human rights and freedoms. Read more »

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