Black people eight times likelier to be stopped and searched
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Black people are eight times more likely to be stopped and searched by police than whites, a significant rise on two years ago, figures showed today.
During 2000/2002 there were 714,000 stop and searches recorded in England and Wales of which 12% were of black people, 6% were Asians and one per cent were of ethnic minorities.
Asians were three times more likely to be stopped and searched than whites, the Home Office figures showed.
Black people were also four times more likely to be arrested than whites or other ethnic minority groups.
The stop and search figures show the over representations of blacks in the figures have actually increased since 1999/2000, when they were five times more likely to be stopped.
Compared with 2000/2001, the number of stops and searches in the Metropolitan Police rose 8% for whites, 30% for blacks and 40% for Asians.
The rest of England and Wales, excluding the Met, showed 2% fewer whites were being stopped and searched, while there was a 6% rise for blacks and a 16% rise for Asians.
The Government statistics also showed ethnic minorities were more likely to have worse experiences in the criminal justice system and were over–represented at every stage.
In a survey, 43% of people felt there was more racism now than five years ago, with white people more likely to say this than blacks or Asians.
Home Office Minister John Denham today announced a new unit to examine the statistics and identify why ethnic minorities feature so heavily in all aspects of the law and order system.
"Minority ethnic people are more likely to be victims of crime and have poor experiences in the criminal justice system," said Mr Denham.
"At the same time they are more likely to be stopped and searched by police officers and suffer more punitive sanctions in the criminal justice system.
"We must get to the bottom of these issues. Where we are seeing the results of continuing discrimination we must work together to root it out.
"It is vital that members of the public engage in a serious debate about race in the criminal justice system.
"Government alone cannot resolve why a disproportionate number of black people are arrested."
The figures published today also pointed out that last year saw a record 14% rise in the number of ethnic minority officers recruited by police to 3,386.
Ethnic recruitment has risen by a third since 1999, the figures showed.
Mr Denham also announced the seven police forces which will from April next year begin issuing certificates to every person they stop in the street, even if they do not search them.
The procedure was recommended in the Stephen Lawrence enquiry to help avoid blacks and Asians being stopped disproportionately by police.
The seven forces to carry out the pilot are: Merseyside, Nottingham, Sussex, West Midlands, West Yorkshire, North Wales and the Met.
The Police Federation, which represents 128,000 front–line officers, has expressed concern that the new measure will increase paperwork for its members at a time when the Home Office is trying to cut red tape in other areas.
Mr Denham said: "The recording of all stops as well as searches, as set out in Recommendation 61 of the Lawrence inquiry report, needs to be implemented in a way that is least inconvenient and time–consuming for both the police and individuals concerned.
"Phased implementation will allow forces to evaluate at each stage the best way to achieve this."
The new scheme will see officers handing certificates to everyone stopped on police business, with the form recording the name, address and ethnic origin of the member of public.