Report Summary
This is the approved Minute from the Policing Performance Committee held on 15 June 2023. The Minute was approved at the meeting on 12 September 2023.
Meeting
The publication discussed was referenced in the meeting below
Policing Performance Committee - 12 September 2023
Date : 12 September 2023
Location : online
Item 3.5
STOP AND SEARCH PERFORMANCE UPDATE
Members noted the paper, with Chief Supt Matt Richards, providing an overview. The following points were highlighted and discussed:
• Members welcomed this model of comparative analysis and the insights it provides.
• Members are keen to understand variations across Scotland and the plans in place to ensure consistency of approach and how governance processes will work through these discrepancies.
• Police Scotland advised that legacy culture still prevails, however, there now is a national training programme and probationer training which aims to decrease the variations across the country.
• Members discussed the disproportionate rate of searches of BAME individuals, seeking clarity on why this happens.
• Members requested further detail on themes emerging from complaints data relating to stop and search.
• Members noted that exploring variables such as socio-economic data and vulnerabilities in relation to stop and search would helpful in providing additional and valuable insight to the recorded data.
• Members requested further analysis be undertaken which takes into account variations across Scotland, insights from positive searches, complaints and the consistency of approach particularly in terms of BME and intersectionality.
Members noted the report and agreed the following action:
PPC 20230615-009 - Stop and Search – Members requested further analysis be undertaken which takes into account variations across Scotland, insights from positive searches, complaints and the consistency of approach particularly in terms of BME and intersectionality.
