NCJ Number
186245
Date Published
January 1997
Length
79 pages
Annotation
This report evaluates a project established in Tottenham area of London, England in response to 1994 statistics indicating the disproportionate use of stop and search for black citizens, especially young black men; the project aimed to increase police and community understanding about the use of stop and search.
Abstract
Police in the project gave a leaflet to people whom they stopped and searched. The leaflet informed individuals of the powers being used and of their rights. The initiative represented the first time that police gave the leaflets to citizens. The evaluation began in October 1995, when the project had been under way for 4 months. Results of the evaluation revealed that the number of recorded stop and searches declined 52 percent during the 12 months of the experiment, compared to the previous 12 months. However, little change occurred in the proportion of people from different ethnic groups who were searched during the experiment. Eighty-nine percent of the police surveyed reported that the leaflet made no difference in their decisions regarding searches. However, a majority of the police wanted the use of the leaflet to continue. In contrast, only 28 percent of those searched said that they received the leaflet; the majority of these said that it had made no difference. Sixty-eight percent of those searched since the introduction of the leaflet said that no difference existed from before; a further 22 percent that the situation was worse. Findings suggested desirability of further developing the experiment, extending it to other London communities, and backing its expansion with police training and managerial support. Figures, tables, appended instrument and background information, list of unpublished source material, and 18 references