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Written question asked by Sarah Jones (Labour) on Monday, 19 October 2020, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 22 October 2020 (named day). It was answered by Kit Malthouse (Conservative) on Thursday, 22 October 2020 on behalf of the Home Office.

Police: Stop and Search

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has to ensure that data is collated on the ethnicity of those involved in police (a) traffic stops and (b) vehicle searches.

Answer

The Home Office already collates data on vehicle searches as part of the stop and search data collection.

In 2018/19, there were a total of 8,041 vehicle stops, with 7,949 stops under Section 1 of PACE and its associated legislation, and 92 stops under Section 60 of CJPOA. Data was published in 'Police powers and procedures, England and Wales year ending 31 March 2019', available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-powers-and-procedures-england-and-wales-year-ending-31-march-2019.

The Home Office collects ethnicity data on all stop and searches of an individual, under Section 1 of PACE and its associated legislation and Section 60 of CJPOA. Additionally, data is collected on the number of searches of unattended vehicles. It is not possible from the data currently collected to identify the ethnicity of those involved in vehicle searches. Overall ethnicity data on stop and search was published in 'Police powers and procedures, England and Wales year ending 31 March 2019', available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-powers-and-procedures-england-and-wales-year-ending-31-march-2019.

Figures for the year ending 31 March 2020 will be published on 27 October 2020.

There are currently no plans to require police forces to collect data for vehicle stops under section 163 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
105510
Session
2019-21
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Databases Ethnic groups Motor vehicles Police Stop and search
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk