UNNECESSARY stop-and-searches conducted by Warwickshire Police have drawn criticism from the national police watchdog.
A report from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary revealed the county’s force was making too many unwarranted searches on residents.
The HMIC’s ‘police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy’ inspection graded the Warwickshire force as ‘requiring improvement’ – urging them to make changes to the way it deals with the public and preventing crime.
It said: “HMIC found the force is not complying with all features of the Best Use of Stop and Search scheme.
“We have a number of concerns about how Warwickshire Police conducts and records instances of stop and search.
“Too many records do not contain sufficient reasonable grounds to stop and search a person and these are not being sufficiently identified or addressed by supervisors.”
The report added stop and search was an effective way to protect people but can often be intrusive and forceful, and highlighted police should keep a full record of stop and searches and only use the method when it is the best approach.
Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Ron Ball called the report “disappointing”, and said it was a result of bad timing.
He said: “The inspection itself was conducted some time ago, during the period when many of the new alliance arrangements between Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police were bedding in.
“Inevitably during such a period of major change, not all processes were as smooth or robust as they have subsequently been made but obviously the report is a snapshot in time.
“It is however disappointing to see the issues raised around stop and search and this is being followed up with the force.”
Mr Ball added he would join West Mercia Commissioner Bill Longmore and Chief Constable Martin Jelley to work with the Independent Trust, Integrity and Ethics Committee to find ways to make improvements.
Warwickshire Police has the legal right to search residents to prevent crimes, including to look for drugs, weapons or stolen property. Generally, stop and searches are used in public places such as football matches or in neighbourhoods experiencing problems with vandalism.
