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

• the impact of race• the use of stop-and-search data• the cost effectiveness of stop and search• the assertion of disproportionality in criminality• the identification of good practice.The MPA reviewed stop-and-search statistics and existing studies; held twelve publichearings; and invited written submissions from individuals and organizations. In May2004, it published the Stop and Search Scrutiny Report, which included 55 recommendations.132 The Scrutiny Panel found stark differences between the evidence presentedby community members about long-standing experience of racially-biased policing,and the police view of stop and search as an effective policing and crime preventiontool. The panel concluded that racial bias and stereotyping in individual police officers’behavior and in institutional policies and practices (or lack of such policies)both permit and cause disproportionate stop and search practices.Community testimony illustrated the negative impacts of stop and search: distrust inpolice, loss of police legitimacy in certain communities, and the alienation of sourcesof community information and criminal intelligence. The panel recognized that theMPS had cooperated with the scrutiny process, but noted that in practice there wasvirtually no analysis or interpretation of stop-and-search data for monitoring, supervision,or intelligence purposes, as well as inadequate community-police partnerships.The panel’s recommendations addressed: leadership and recognition of the problem,stop-and search-powers, organizational management, training, public complaints,raising public awareness, and community-police relations. The MPS continues toreport to the MPA and local stop-and-search monitoring groups four times a year toreview progress on implementing the recommendations. The MPA have supportedthe development of local borough stop-and-search monitoring groups, and publiceducation about rights and entitlements.More recently, in May 2011, the MPA held a public consultation around the recordingof police use of stop and account (those stops in which officers’ ask the individual toaccount for their presence or activities, but do not lead to searches). 133 The consultationincluded an on-line survey to capture a quantitative measure of opinion andevents providing an opportunity for community members especially young peoplewho are most likely to be affected by stops to share their views and take part indiscussions that will help the Metropolitan Police Service to decide whether therecording of stop and account interactions should be retained or discontinued.72 OVERSIGHT BODIES AND COMPLAINTS MECHANISMS