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Reducing Ethnic Profiling in the European Union - Open Society ...

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UNITED KINGDOM“Know your Rights” Mobile ApplicationStudents <strong>in</strong> South London have developed an application for mobile phones thatprovides guidance on what is supposed to happen dur<strong>in</strong>g a stop and what peoplecan do if <strong>the</strong>y are unhappy with <strong>the</strong>ir treatment. 199 The application is a picture-ledtutorial on <strong>the</strong> stop-and-search process allow<strong>in</strong>g users to follow a checklist to ensurethat correct procedures are followed. The application can also be used to log <strong>the</strong>experience dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> stop and search and to make a compla<strong>in</strong>t.A mobile application enables immediate and easy access to guidance for youngpeople who are stopped. The design—done by young people—is accessible and<strong>the</strong> application can be downloaded without charge nationally on Android phones.The designers are currently expand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> software compatibility for o<strong>the</strong>r makes ofmobile phone.Ano<strong>the</strong>r approach to enhanc<strong>in</strong>g police accountability to local residents is <strong>the</strong> useof “ride-alongs” and o<strong>the</strong>r forms of civilian monitor<strong>in</strong>g. In “ride-alongs,” local residentsaccompany officers on <strong>the</strong>ir daily patrols <strong>in</strong> car or on foot. This enables residents toobserve law enforcement officers directly and improve <strong>the</strong>ir understand<strong>in</strong>g of differentoperations. It also requires <strong>the</strong> officer to consider how his/her work appears <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> eyesof a member of <strong>the</strong> public who may be report<strong>in</strong>g back to his superiors, or to neighborsand local officials. Regular “ride-alongs” can build understand<strong>in</strong>g and trust betweenm<strong>in</strong>ority residents and officers who may have had only limited contact before, as <strong>the</strong>follow<strong>in</strong>g example from Hungary <strong>in</strong>dicates.HUNGARYCivilian Monitor<strong>in</strong>g through Police Ride-AlongsIn 2008, as part of <strong>the</strong> Strategies for Effective Police Stop and Search (STEPSS)project, a team of Roma community representatives observed two police shifts aweek for a period of six months and discussed <strong>the</strong>ir observations with police supervisors.The observers received tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g prior to <strong>the</strong> ride-alongs and signed confidentiallyagreements. Police officers were given additional guidel<strong>in</strong>es on safety when onpatrol with civilian monitors. The monitors observed all aspects of daily polic<strong>in</strong>g,focus<strong>in</strong>g primarily on stops. They had <strong>the</strong> right to <strong>in</strong>teract with <strong>the</strong> person be<strong>in</strong>gstopped and record <strong>the</strong>ir observations. They observed <strong>the</strong> reason for stops, who wasbe<strong>in</strong>g stopped, <strong>the</strong> conduct of <strong>the</strong> stop, and ensured that stops were be<strong>in</strong>g recorded.116 STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING ETHNIC DISPROPORTIONALITY

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