‘Our officers know stop and search can save lives’

19 June 2023

West Mercia Police Federation has welcomed the Home Secretary’s calls to ramp up the use of stop and search powers “to prevent violence and save more lives”.

Suella Braverman  said she would give her “full support” to officers who use the powers and was writing to police chiefs across England and Wales to give her full backing to the tactic. 

Ms Braverman said: “Carrying weapons is a scourge on our society, and anyone doing so is risking their own lives as well as the lives of those around them.

“This dangerous culture must be brought to a stop.

“My first priority is to keep the public safe, and people who insist on carrying a weapon must know that there will be consequences.

“The police have my full support to ramp up the use of stop and search, wherever necessary, to prevent violence and save more lives.”

Home Secretary Suella Braverman

West Mercia Police Federation chair Barry Horton said he welcomed Ms Braverman’s comments but called for a more consistent approach from ministers.

He said: “We welcome the support from the Home Secretary however it must be noted that the Government can’t have it both ways. 

“Stop and search is an effective and very important tool in an officer's kit and it can be a useful deterrent. 

“Previously the Government has been very vocal about reducing stop and search and even threatened legal reforms if we did not change. 

“But officers up and down the country know how effective it can be not only in preventing offences and taking weapons off the street but also in saving lives.”

Critics of stop and search say it disproportionately targets black and ethnic minority communities.

Government statistics suggest black people are seven times more likely to be stopped and searched compared with white people.

And campaign groups have previously warned that relaxing restrictions on police use of the power could compound discrimination.