West Midlands Police chief praises stop and search reduction
A police chief has praised the reduction in stop and searches across the West Midlands in recent years.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson responded to the latest HMIC stop and search report, which asked whether police are using their powers effectively and fairly, saying the region has seen 'real successes' and will continue to improve.
Mr Jamieson said: "The use of stop and search has fallen by two-thirds, from over 50,000 a year down to under 20,000.
"As the number of stop and searches has been reduced the outcome rate has increased from less than 5 per cent to over 20 per cent.
"This shows that West Midlands Police is using stop and search more proportionally and more effectively.
"To continue to improve we have given all front line officers refresher training and have set-up 'community stop and search scrutiny panels' to make sure that local people can challenge how stop and search is used in their local areas.
"All of these positive steps have meant that we have reduced the number of stop and searches, reduced racial disproportionally and increased the positive outcome rate.
"We must continue to work hard to keep the public's trust on this sensitive issue but we have had real successes in the West Midlands."
