Lib Dem Ryan Priest urges action on 'discriminatory' Stop and Search powers

A daming report into police use of Stop and Search reveals that BAME people are almost 3 times more likely to be stopped than a white person in the West Midlands, despite no difference in the proportion of resulting arrests.

This report, pubished by the government, reveals a worrying trend of discrimination in the use of stop and search powers by the police. Yet despite this, the government has signalled that it will expand the use of stop and search with no evidence that it is effective in reducing crime. Research has consistently shown that Stop and Search powers are counter productive, it marginalises minority communities, destroys their relationships with the police, and pushes young people into the criminal justice system.

Liberal Democrat Spokersperson for Halesowen and Rowley Regis Ryan Priestsaid:

"The Tories heavy handed approch may play well in speeches but it does nothing to tackle this countires rising crime rates"

"Effective policing relies on a strong relationship with the communities they work in, stop and search is destroying this relationship and sowing mistrust.

"The way forwards is rebuild the trust between police and the communities they serve, this can be done by restoring community policing, adopting a public health approach to violent crime, and investing in youth services"

Dudley, Stourbridge, and Halesowen Liberal Democrats have been campaigning for a public health approach to violent crime modelled on the successful approach taken by Scotland's Violence Reduction Unit. This would involve identifying risk factors and treating them early on, with youth workers, police, teachers, health professionals and social services all working closely together to prevent young people falling into gangs and violence.

As well as this the party has proposed a huge increase in spending on youth services in order to provide young people with positive, safe and healthy alternatives to gangs.

Council spending on youth services has been cut by £300 million - or 40 per cent - since 2015. Knife crime has risen by 80% over the same period, with a record high of 47,500 offences recorded in the year to June 2019. Research has also found the areas with the biggest cuts to youth services have seen some of the biggest increases in knife crime.