The Waltham Forest Stop and Search Group met on Monday 22 July 2024 to discuss various aspects of stop and search practices within the borough. Key discussions included updates on the Stop and Search Charter, the effectiveness of body-worn camera footage in officer training, and concerns regarding the disproportionate impact of searches on young people and ethnic minorities. The group also reviewed quarterly statistics and discussed the processes for scrutinising searches and handling complaints.

Stop and Search Charter Update

The group received an update on the Stop and Search Charter, which is currently in development. The Chair, Aimee Farquhar, will follow up with the Central Stop and Search Group for further consultation findings by the October meeting.

Body-Worn Camera Footage Sessions

Discussions focused on the use of body-worn camera (BWC) footage to improve officer awareness and accountability. Inspector Kamran Qureshi of the Metropolitan Police highlighted that frontline officers have been involved in viewing BWC sessions. However, challenges remain due to the limited number of officers who can participate. Plans are in place to record and share these sessions more widely to address this. Feedback from these sessions, both positive and negative, will be integrated into officer training. The group noted that future training would be standardised across London boroughs under the Op Charter program. The Chair requested that the issue of facilitating BWC sessions be recorded as an action point for further follow-up. Inspector Qureshi agreed to generalise and share feedback from future sessions to protect confidentiality while still informing the group about the outcomes.

YIAG and Streetbase Updates

Gulcin Sariyildiz, Streetbase Coordinator for the Youth Independent Advisory Group (YIAG), provided an update on issues impacting young people regarding stop and search practices. Young people expressed discomfort with multiple officers involved in searches and the frequency of repeat searches, which negatively affects their perception of the police. They also highlighted the need for simplified communication. Inspector Qureshi addressed these concerns, stating that BWC coverage is high (98.4%) and ongoing training aims to ensure BWC activation early. The police review repeated searches, though the number of such cases is low. The importance of proportionality and understanding the impact on young people during searches was emphasised. The group also discussed challenges with the move to electronic receipts for stop and searches, which may deter young people from making complaints, and the short duration (one month) that BWC footage is stored unless further action is taken.

Quarterly Statistics

The Chair presented the latest quarterly statistics for stop and search in Waltham Forest. Over the past year, there were 3,738 stop-and-searches, averaging 300 per month, a 25% decrease from the previous year. This reduction was viewed positively, suggesting more targeted searches and higher rates of positive outcomes. However, the no further action rate remains high at 70%. Drug-related stops accounted for 60% of cases. A significant concern raised was that over 50% of those subjected to More Thorough Intermittent Part (MTIP) searches were Black, indicating racial disproportionality.

Scrutiny of Searches Not Recorded / Scrutiny of MTIP Processes

The group discussed the oversight of BWC footage during stop-and-searches, noting that supervisors are not required to review all footage. The existing program for random reviews (Op Coniston) has been suspended, and while some random scrutiny by managers occurs, it is not comprehensive. A new program is being developed but has no set launch date. The group also considered viewing stop and search as a safeguarding issue, particularly for children, and discussed a pilot project in Haringey that assesses safeguarding needs for children subjected to searches. Concerns were also raised about data collection on individuals, particularly young people, and the potential for misuse.

How Met Uses WF Stop and Search Group Feedback to Improve

Concerns were raised about the practice of police officers taking names from Oyster cards during stops. While legally justifiable, members felt it damaged relationships with young people and created distrust. Inspector Qureshi acknowledged the feedback but explained the distinction between local actions and broader Metropolitan Police policies. He noted that there has been no explicit directive encouraging or discouraging this practice. The group urged the police to provide clearer directions to officers, especially given the negative impact on young people. The suggestion was made to escalate the issue to the Mayor of London, who is also the Police Commissioner.

Escalation Routes

The Chair emphasised the need to escalate issues more effectively, particularly by involving the Mayor of London more directly. Given the Mayor's re-election, it was deemed crucial for him to engage more actively with the group's concerns. This was identified as an important action point to take forward to the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC).

New Borough Commander

The Chair mentioned that the new borough commander, Rhona Hunt, had requested the names and contact details of group members. However, personal contact information was not provided, with communication to continue through the Chair and the council. The borough commander was invited to the next meeting. Zahra Jones advised that the borough commander would be on maternity leave from October, with Dan Card likely to take over. The group discussed inviting Dan Card to the next meeting.

S&S Charter Update

The discussion on the Stop and Search Charter was revisited, with an emphasis on integrating Citizens Assembly recommendations into stop and search practices, particularly regarding young people's input. Concerns were raised about the lack of engagement with the Citizens Assembly process and the need for better communication from the council. The relationship between the Police Encounter Panel (PEP) and the Stop and Search Community Monitoring Group (CMG) was also discussed, with concerns about the lack of Waltham Forest representation in the PEP and the exclusion of individuals from participating in both panels.

Future Meetings

Dates for the remaining meetings of the municipal year were confirmed as 7 October 2024, 13 January 2025, and 28 April 2025. Dates for upcoming BWC review sessions in August and September were to be finalised.