‘Precision Stop and Search’-New Met Police pilot scheme launched across Barking and Dagenham.

As from today 21 June, the Met Police are piloting ‘precision stop and search’ across Barking and Dagenham and Lambeth. This pilot scheme is being rolled out across Northbury,Longbridge and Thames View wards with the aim to keep the tool effective but also making sure that the police do not lose trust and confidence across communities.

The Havering Daily spoke with Barking and Dagenham Neighbourhoods Superintendent David Rhodes about this new pilot.

“We know that stop and search saves lives and removes many weapons off the streets. We are also aware of the impact it can have on communities and the potential trauma it may cause.”

 It’s recognised by the Met that stop and search can have a negative impact for individuals and communities, particularly when they get things wrong. And it’s clear that as a force, they risk losing the trust, confidence and co-operation of Londoners in these circumstances. 

 The arrival of precision stop and search has seen officers working closely with the local communities about the way they undertake the use of this tool.

“We spoke with our communities.We met with the Leader of the Council, councillors, and our youth centres to talk about how we could actively improve stop and search. We were clear that we did not want to force this new pilot on the community but work with them on how we can improve stop and search.

“We know that we have damaged confidence with our use of stop and search and we want to improve our interaction with our communities. Members of the public have reported feeling humiliated and often felt put on show by the use of stop and search, so our aim with this new pilot is to improve the way we stop and search,” continued Mr Rhodes.

“The key elements of precision stop and search is neutrality-meaning listening to the person being stopped and hearing what they have to say. Respect-showing empathy and understanding during the stop and de-briefing-meaning taking the time after the search to explain further.”

The first batch of officers who have under gone the new precision stop and search training are from East Area Violent Crime Task Force and so far 80 officers have been trained and will be used as additional officers across the Barking and Dagenham area.

Local Safer Neighbourhood ward officers and schools officers will also receive this new training in a bid to improve the use of stop and search across the area.

“Most officers have volunteered for the new training and we have spoken at length with all our key partners across the area. This is a way to not only improve stop and search but also strengthen it.

“We want to show the communities that we are listening to their concerns, we are listening to our young people and we want to build trust and confidence.”

The pilot scheme begins today across Barking and Dagenham and Lambeth and will be monitored by the force to see how effective it is.

The Met are hoping precision stop and search will achieve the following:

·       Using data more accurately to inform where they conduct stop and search by targeting areas with the highest numbers of weapon enabled crime. Continue to share this data with local communities.  

·       Improving encounters, by introducing procedural justice training for officers. This means that the stops will put more emphasis on two-way engagement, and allowing the person being stopped to have more of a voice in the encounter. 

·       Engaging with communities at a hyper local level, so they understand the issues they are addressing and can also offer advise  

·       Reviewing standards of approach to allow for continuous improvement 

We hope that a more collaborative approach to Stop and Search will have an impact in increasing trust and confidence with the local community.  By being more targeted with the tactics that will be employ in areas of high violence, we are expecting to see a reduction in crime and violence in the area.  

We want to work with the residents of Barking and Dagenham to ensure that we are using tactics that have the support of the community. 

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