Public gets interactive guide to stop and search

Bedfordshire Police has launched an interactive ‘toolkit’ designed to help give the public a better understanding of stop and search. The toolkit provides an introduction to stop and search, including the powers and law behind the police use of the tool, as well as recent statistics about how proportionately it is used across ages, ethnicities and genders. The interactive PDF also gives information about the force’s ‘Ride Along Scheme’ – which allows members of the community to experience first-hand what a police officer on patrol encounters whilst carrying out their duties – and provides details on how the public can give their feedback on stop and search. Finally the toolkit gives an insight into the work of the volunteer Community Scrutiny Panel, which analyses the force’s use of this power and provides constructive criticism on ways to improve. Chief Inspector Hob Hoque from the Community Safety team said: “We are keen to make our use of stop and search within Bedfordshire as open and transparent as possible, and ensure it is used fairly and efficiently. “Stop and search enables us to serve the communities of Bedfordshire by fighting crime and protecting the public, but in order to do this we must make sure that we make all of the information about it accessible. “This toolkit, along with the statistics and ways to get in contact, are a vital way for us to grow and improve with the support of the public.” Montell Neufville, chair of Bedfordshire`s Community Scrutiny Panel, added: “We are now in the millennial age, so I was pleased to work with Bedfordshire Police to bring up to date their web presence and to offer a stop and search toolkit accessible online for everyone interested in the topic of stop and search and community policing. “I’m sure residents, partners, community groups, academics and other policing forces will find this useful. It will further demonstrate how effective communities working in partnerships with forces can add value for all concerned.” The toolkit can be accessed here