The introduction of the UK’s Criminal Justice Act (CJA) 2003 extended police stop and search powers. It allowed officers to stop and search for articles concerning the commission of the offence of criminal damage. The purpose of this study is to examine whether the act produced a change in the extent and nature of stop/searches. The four key findings are that there was: a large increase in observed compared to expected stop/searches, an increase in the likelihood of individuals of an Asian or Asian British Pakistani origin and Black and Black British of African origin being stopped and searched relative to others. A decrease in the proportion of stop/searches resulting in arrest; and the distribution of arrests being patterned by the ethnicity of a suspect stopped and searched.
Latest News
Doctoral and Early Career Training School 'Researching the Experiences of Police Stops' - Call for Expressions of Interest
We are beginning to learn more about the practice of stops and searches conducted in public spaces by police officers.…
Read moreIdentifying and tackling problematic or abusive forms of police selectivity.
An action research on the problematic practices and/or mechanisms of police district of Schaerbeek-Evere-St-Josse (PolBruNo). Carroll Tange and Sarah Van…
Read moreGeorge Floyd
Watching a police officer murder a man in full view is horrifying. We feel suffocated watching it – but it…
Read morePolstops partners at the ESC2019
Don’t miss the opportunity to learn more about Polstops at the European Society of Criminology! Megan O’Neill will be chairing…
Read moreWould you like to know more?
Contact UsWant to take part of this Action?
How to join
COST Action COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding agency for research and innovation networks. Our Actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and enable scientists to grow their ideas by sharing them with their peers. This boosts their research, career and innovation.
Know more +