Transparency
5. Stop and Search (Havant)
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?
The possession and supply of drugs continues to be one of the main issues we are working to tackle in Havant, and our Stop and Search powers are one way we do this.
Stops under drugs legislation account for 68 per cent of the total searches conducted. This theme is reflected when outcomes are reviewed as the majority of positive outcomes - when we find what we are searching for - are drug related.
Is our use of Stop and Search in Havant proportionate?
Of the 149 searches we conducted, five were on a person from an ethnic minority. All five were completed in response to ongoing and dynamic incidents, where the person stopped either matched the description of a suspect or was named by another person. Three of these resulted in a positive outcome.
Searches completed face scrutiny at both Sergeant and Inspector level where Body Worn Video is dip sampled to identify learning and share best practice. There is a further layer of scrutiny in addition to this by our Independent Advisory Group which is made up of members of the community.
Where can I find more information about Stop and Search in Havant?
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.
How does this fit in with our District Priorities in Havant?
The current district priorities in Havant are:
- Tackling drug supply and drug-related harm
- Domestic abuse