Police are failing to use stop and search powers that could prevent horrific knife murders because they fear being called racist, it was claimed last night. Conservative Saqib Bhatti said police were holding back because of “misplaced concerns about community tensions” even though teenagers were being killed.
The MP, a shadow culture minister, urged Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to draw up new guidelines to ensure officers used their powers to the full. Mr Bhatti said: “Stop and search saves lives. There is a very strong consensus among police chiefs that it is an important tool for disrupting crime and taking weapons off our streets quickly.” But highlighting figures showing the number of searches carried out has fallen, he said: “I fear that police are not using this power to its fullest extent because of fears of being sued, disciplined or called racist.”
He represents a constituency in the West Midlands region which has the highest knife crime rate in the country. It includes Birmingham, where
12-year-old Leo Ross died in January after being stabbed as he walked home from school. A 14-year-old boy is due to appear at Birmingham Crown Court on 22 April to enter pleas to a charge of murder.
In October last year 17-year-old Reuben Higgins died after being stabbed in nearby Solihull. Three teenagers have been charged with murder.
Birmingham MP Paulette Hamilton has said she fears for her family after her nephew survived being stabbed at a city bus stop as he travelled home from a Saturday job. He had been approached by people demanding to know why he was in their postcode area.
Mr Bhatti called on the Home Office to reform guidance which tells police how to make use of powers granted under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, including the ability to stop and search.
He said: “I want our police forces to have everything they need, and stop and search is absolutely necessary for them to do their job effectively, without fear of being reprimanded for just doing their job.”
Police Minister Dame Diana Johnson said: “Stop and search helps police to save lives and tackle crime. When officers have reasonable grounds, they should, as I have said, feel confident using these powers.”
She said new laws would fight drugs gangs connected to some violent crime. “It is crucial that we tackle the gang culture that lures children and young people into crime and runs county lines through violence and exploitation. As we committed to do in our manifesto, we are introducing a new offence of criminal exploitation of children in the Crime and Policing Bill.
“That new criminal offence is necessary to increase convictions of exploiters, deter gangs from enlisting children and improve identification of victims.”
