News & comment
Our latest blog posts
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Letter to The Times
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’
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
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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Stop and Search: A Guide for Parents and Children, plus short film
Read and download our latest publication Stop and Search: A Guide for Parents and Children. The guide has been made in consultation with parents’ groups, children and young people who have been stopped and searched. Using a harm reduction approach, this guide focuses on keeping children as safe as possible during interactions with the police. It outlines what should happen during a stop and search and contains key information and tips to help support children and their parents. Read more »
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CALL OUT for Community Resources
To accompany our upcoming publication, Stop and Search: A Guide for Parents and Children, we would like to host a range of resources for parents and children on our website. Do you know some great resources for parents and children dealing with police interactions? Read more »
Latest from our streams of work
Research & policy
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Briefing on Stop and Search and PCC Developments: October - December 2015
StopWatch, 4 Jan 2016 -
Less stop and search does not mean more knife crime
StopWatch, 23 Oct 2015 -
London rise in terrorism searches
StopWatch, 1 Jul 2015
Legal
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StopWatch responds to HMIC Report on current use of stop and search powers
Alice Roberti, 27 Mar 2015 -
NGOs call on Home Office to push through reforms on strip search and police traffic stops
StopWatch, 24 Mar 2015 -
StopWatch response to Home Office Consultation on Draft PACE Code A concerning Stop and Search
Taher Gulamhussein, 20 Oct 2014
Youth
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Y-Stop launches new app aimed at police accountability
StopWatch, 28 Aug 2015 -
From negative experiences to positive ideas: youth voices on stop and search
Alice Roberti, 10 Apr 2015 -
Y-Stop launches
Natasha Dhumma, 25 Jun 2014