Stop and Search
8. Stop and Search (Eastleigh)
The force has a commitment to becoming more open and transparent. Part of this is being better at sharing and engaging on some of the powers that our police officers use to keep people safe, and that includes Stop and Search.
We believe that greater scrutiny will further ensure that our use of these is right and proper.
What are we searching for?
Drugs are the most common reason for searches, although searches for offensive weapons like knives and possession of stolen goods have increased. Many of these are as a result of information from the public, which helps us to focus on the right areas and people that cause the most harm. Our Priority Crime Team continue to work with the Violent Crime Task Force in reducing crime and to make our communities safer.
As a result of the public reporting things to us and highlighting problem areas, we have seen an increase in people arrested for offences like having offensive weapons and stolen property. This has meant an increase in people charged for such offences, preventing them from continuing to commit crime and removing weapons from our streets.
Is our use of stop and search in Eastleigh proportionate?
Our latest data, covering the period from July to September 2024, shows you were no more likely to be stopped if you were black compared to a white person in Eastleigh.
It does indicate a person of mixed heritage was almost two times as likely to be stopped.
Within the constabulary, stop and search is scrutinised by line managers and local Inspectors, to ensure we are using it lawfully and proportionately, as well as looking to make sure it remains the most suitable police power to use.
We know that some families who have lost loved ones to violence and drug related harm advocate police searches but we also know many people have concerns about whether policing powers are used fairly. As a force we know that it helps us to keep people safe and spend considerable time scrutinising how it is used. But, we also recognise that our view alone is not enough.
We need views from others so we are doing far more engagement than we did previously. Scrutiny involving our Independent Advisory Groups (made up of members of the public) is therefore part of our approach, and we would encourage people all of our communities to get involved in these groups. We also want to hear more views on Stop and Search. Follow us on Facebook if you’d like to take part in discussions about policing in your local area.
Where can I find more information about Stop & Search in Eastleigh?
You can see more about the numbers by looking at the infographic, below. We have also provided the same data in a different format if that is easier for you.
Where can I find previous quarterly data?
If you want to look at data from previous quarters from the Eastleigh district, then you will be able to find it here.
