A rising number of UK women are being subjected to stop and search by police, with thousands more searches taking place in the year ending March 2024 than in the same period the previous year.
Despite a fall in the use of stop and search towards men, the number of women subjected to the tactic has risen, according to Home Office data. Analysis reveals that thousands more searches of women took place in the year ending March 2024 than in the same period the previous year.
The Rise in Stop and Search Against Women
The data shows a 7% increase in searches of women up to March 2024 compared with a 2% drop for those of men. This means that there were 59,549 searches of women, while 447,952 searches of men took place during the same period.
StopWatch, a police reform charity, has also found 10,450 cases of stop and search used against girls. The charity argues that this trend contradicts ‘persistent evidence‘ that officers discover ‘incredibly low‘ numbers of items during searches, with the search rarely resulting in further action being taken.
The Impact on Women and Girls
The rise in stop and search against women has significant implications for those affected. Jodie Bradshaw, policy and advocacy lead at StopWatch, states: ‘We don’t think that stop and search is fit for purpose. There are other strategies which are much more likely to bring about fewer crimes and for people to feel safe walking in public spaces and in the communities where they live.‘
Women were also subject to 18% of use-of-force reports by police, with black women making up about 9% of these incidents. This is despite the latest census estimates suggesting that black women make up only 4% of the population.
Racial Disparities in Policing
The data highlights racial disparities in policing. Bradshaw argues that police forces are more likely to patrol areas where a higher proportion of black, minority ethnic and marginalised groups live, leading to increased stop and search as well as force being used on these communities.
Racial disparities refer to differences in outcomes, opportunities, and experiences between racial groups.
These disparities are often rooted in systemic inequalities, such as discriminatory laws, policies, and practices.
In the United States, racial disparities affect various aspects of life, including education, employment, healthcare, housing, and law enforcement.
For example, African Americans are more likely to be incarcerated than whites, have lower median household incomes, and experience higher rates of infant mortality.
Deborah Coles, director of Inquest, a charity concerned with state-related deaths, emphasizes the need to understand the rising number of stop and searches within the context of ‘increasing inequality, poverty and criminalisation‘. She notes that protests and shoplifting crackdowns have contributed to this trend.
Personal Experiences of Stop and Search
Personal accounts from those who have experienced stop and search highlight the traumatic impact on individuals. Shenna D’archeville shared her story of being stopped while driving in north London, where she felt racially profiled due to her race and profession as a children’s residential worker. Her experience left her 11-year-old son shaken.
The police argue that stop and search is a vital tool in tackling crime, particularly the rise in knife crime. However, Assistant Chief Constable Andrew Mariner acknowledges that being subject to a stop and search can be traumatising, particularly for vulnerable individuals or children.
- theguardian.com | Rising number of UK women stopped and searched by police
