Lewisham Stop and Search Monitoring Group

 

The Lewisham Stop & Search monitoring Group sit within the Lewisham Safer Neighbourhood Board (LSNB) as an independent group that scrutinise the impact of stop and search activities in Lewisham.

Stop and Search is a tool used by the police to assist them with crime. However, it is intrusive, and it is vital for trust and confidence in policing that the Community know that it is being used in an intelligence-led, proportionate, and respectful way. The group is independent of Police, Council and MOPAC (Mayors’ office for Policing and Crime) but works in partnership with all community safety organisations to improve community confidence in the use of stop and Search interactions.

Stop and Search Community Monitoring Network

The MOPAC Community Monitoring Network is a pan-London body open to representatives from the Stop and Search Monitoring Groups from all the London boroughs. It has two meetings every quarter, one open to borough representatives only and the other including police officers responsible for Stop and Search policy and practice as well. It is an opportunity to learn from what other boroughs are doing to monitor Stop and Search in their areas and to recognise best practice.

Police powers to stop and search: Know Your Rights

The police have powers to stop and question you at any time – they can search you depending on the situation.

A police community support officer (PCSO) must be in uniform when they stop and question you. A police officer doesn’t always have to be in uniform but if they’re not wearing uniform, they must show you their warrant card.

Stop and question: police powers

A police officer has powers to stop you at any time and ask you:

  • what you’re doing
  • why you’re in an area and/or where you’re going

However, you don’t have to answer any questions the police officer asks you (unless you are being arrested).

Stop and search: police powers

A police officer has powers to stop and search you if they have ‘reasonable grounds’ to suspect you’re carrying:

  • illegal drugs
  • a weapon
  • stolen property
  • something which could be used to commit a crime, e.g., a crowbar

You can only be stopped and searched without reasonable grounds if it has been approved by a senior police officer. This can happen if it is suspected that:

  • serious violence could take place
  • you’re carrying a weapon or have used one
  • you’re in a specific location or area

Before you’re searched

Before you’re searched the police officer must tell you:

  • their name and police station
  • what they expect to find, e.g., drugs
  • the reason they want to search you, e.g., it looks like you’re hiding something
  • why they are legally allowed to search you
  • that you can have a record of the search and if this isn’t possible at the time, how you can get a copy

Removing clothing: police powers

A police officer can ask you to take off your coat, jacket, or gloves.

The police might ask you to take off other clothes and anything you’re wearing for religious reasons – e.g., a veil or turban. If they do, they must take you somewhere out of public view.

If the officer wants to remove more than a jacket and gloves, they must be the same sex as you.

Being searched doesn’t mean you’re being arrested.

Interactions with the public during encounters must be professional

The LSNB has leaflets that inform you of your rights and responsibilities when stopped – The advice is to GOWISELY

 

G A clear explanation of the officer’s grounds for suspicion, eg, info/intel or specific behaviour of person.
O A clear explanation of the object and purpose of the search in terms of the article being searched for.
W Warrant card, if not in uniform or if requested.
I Identity of the officer(s): name and number or, in cases involving terrorism or where there is a specific risk to the officer, just warrant or collar number.
S Station to which the officer is attached.
E Entitlement to a copy of the search record within 3 months.
L Legal power used.
Y You are detained for the purposes of a search.

 

If you have had an experience, or you have an interest to lend your voice to this very important and controversial work in Lewisham, kindly send a mail to the admin, LewishamSNBoard@gmail.com