Stop and Search Declines in London By 23% As Bereaved Parents Hit Out At Knife Crime Surge

“If my son’s killer had been stopped and searched, he’d still be here today.”
Bereaved parents are speaking out as knife crime rises and stop and search powers decline across London. Is it time to act before more lives are lost?

The Metropolitan Police Service (Met) has seen a sharp decline in the use of stop and search powers across London, sparking renewed debate as knife crime continues to rise at an alarming rate.

Between March 2023 and March 2024, the Met carried out 137,055 stop and searches—a 22.8% decrease from the previous year. This marks one of the lowest figures since 2017–18, and comes at a time when knife crime has surged by 16.3%, hitting a record high of 14,961 offences.

The drop in stop and search has been linked to growing concerns among officers about the repercussions of using their powers. The Met Commissioner has acknowledged that many officers are increasingly hesitant to stop individuals due to fear of complaints and disciplinary action. Critics, including former Policing Minister Chris Philp, have argued that political reluctance—particularly from City Hall—has further discouraged proactive policing.

One bereaved mother summed up the growing frustration among affected families: “If my son’s killer had been stopped and searched, the machete would have been found and my son would still be alive. Instead, stop and search has decreased as officers have been reluctant and almost too scared to undertake it due to the heavy consequences they may face. Yet, there is no doubt it works. Removal of dangerous weapons means potentially another life saved.”

This plea echoes the sentiments of countless families across London who believe stop and search, when used fairly and appropriately, is a vital tool in protecting lives.

In response, the Met introduced a new Stop and Search Charter in February 2025, shaped by input from more than 8,500 Londoners. The force is also trialling a “precision stop and search” approach to better target crime hotspots while respecting community concerns.

Nevertheless, many argue the reduction in these powers has already come at a human cost. As more families suffer the loss of loved ones to knife crime, calls are intensifying for a balanced, accountable, yet confident approach to policing on London’s streets.

Bereaved parents call for more stop and search.

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