Statistics on Race and the Criminal Justice System 1998

Summary of main findings
In 1997/98:
The latest estimates indicate that 2% of the
population aged 10 and over in England and
Wales were of black ethnic origin, 3% of Asian
origin and 1% 'other' non-white ethnic groups.
1 million stops and searches were carried out by
the police under the Police and Criminal
Evidence Act (PACE) of which 11% were of
black people, 5% Asian and 1% 'other' nonwhite
origin. Police forces varied in their use of
powers for stop and search under PACE. Black
people were, on average, 5 times more likely to
be stopped and searched by the police than
white people. The use of these powers for
Asians and 'other' ethnic groups varied widely.
2 million arrests took place of which 7% were
of black people, 4% Asian and 1% 'other' nonwhite
origin. Black people were more likely to
be arrested than white or other ethnic groups.
About 280 thousand persons were cautioned by
the police for all offences (excluding motoring)
of which 5% were of black people, 4% Asian
and 1% 'other' non-white ethnic origin.
Cautioning was used less frequently for black
people than for white and 'other' ethnic groups.
Section 95
1,230 homicides were recorded in 1996/97 and
1997/98 of which 9% were of black people, 6%
Asian and 3% 'other' non-white ethnic origin; 8
were recorded as being racially motivated. The
police were less likely to identify suspects for
homicides involving black victims than for
white or those from other ethnic groups.
7% of persons commencing probation orders,
10% commencing community service and
combination orders and 18% of the prison
population were of non-white ethnic origin.
Racial incidents rose by 6% to 13,880 -
possibly reflecting better reporting and
recording of such incidents.
Ethnic minorities are under-represented in the
police service, prison service, lay magistracy
and senior posts in all the criminal justice
agencies. Recent information shows that ethnic
minorities form a significant proportion of new
entrants to the legal profession (25% of those
enrolling on the Bar Vocational Course in
October 1997).
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