UK: Stop and search figures
01 July 1994
The number of recorded and stop and searches of people by the police in 1993 was up 26% on 1992, the number subsequently arrested was 13%, down on the 14% during 1992. A total of 442,800 people were stopped and searched (351,700 in 1992) and 55,900 were arrested (48,700 in 1992). This means 386,900 people were stopped, searched and questioned under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) and not arrested. The figures do not include people who are stopped and questioned but not searched as there is no legal obligation for the police to record this. Nor are any figures given for those arrested and not charged or acquitted by the courts.
Stops and searches are made on the grounds of suspected stolen property, drugs, firearms, offensive weapons, going equipped to burgle and other minor offences. The total numbers are:
No. stop & searches Arrests
1986 109,800 18,900
1987 118,300 19,600
1988 149,600 23,700
1989 202,800 32,800
1990 256,900 39,200
1991 303,800 46,200
1992 351,700 48,700
1993 442,800 55,900
The largest number of stops and searches were carried out, as usual, by the Metropolitan Police in London where 228,306 people were stopped (191,819 in 1992) and 25,405 people arrested (just 11% of those stopped).
The number of roadblock checks in 1993 was the highest on record since PACE came into operation in 1986. There were 3,560 roadblocks set up as compared to 445 in 1992. This rise was due to 3,200 roadblocks being set up in the City of London following IRA bombings. 48,850 vehicles were stopped and searched. However, the numbers arrested for reasons connected with the roadblocks being set up rose only from 29 to 50, while the number of people arrested for reasons unconnected with the reason for setting up the roadblocks rose from 83 to 902.
The number of people held in police custody for questioning for more than 24 hours and subsequently released without charge was 459 (402 in 1992). There were 244 people held for more than 36 hours of whom 187 were later charged. The number of intimate body searches carried out during 1993 was 41 (down from 71 in 1992) - in none of these searches were drugs or "other harmful devices" found.
Operation of certain police powers under PACE Home Office Statistical Bulletin June 1994; see Statewatch vol 1 no 4; vol 2 no 5; vol 4 no 1.