The Black Lives Matter protests have demonstrated the urgent need to tackle racial injustice and address the pain and harm these injustices cause.
A Black person is 47 times more likely to be stopped and searched than a white person.
We are urging the Prime Minister to look again at some of the harmful policies his Government is pursuing. One of these is his expansion of StopandSearch powers.
Black people are disproportionately likely to bestoppedandsearched by the police, andfor suspicion-lessstopandsearchthe figures are particularly stark.
Under suspicion-lessStopandSearchpowers, a Black person is 47 times more likely to be stopped andsearched than a white person.
On too many occasionsstopandsearchseems to mean being black is enough to suspect someone of being a criminal.
The Conservative Government is increasing the use of suspicion-lessStopandSearchdramatically. Home Office figures show that the number of Section 60searches has risen from 631 in 2016-17 to 13,175 in 2018-19 – a 20-fold increase in just two years.
On too many occasions stop and search seems to mean being black is enough to suspect someone of being a criminal.
Suspicion-less StopandSearchis also unnecessary. Without it, police would still have the power tostopandsearchpeople for weapons if they have reasonable suspicion.StopandSearchpowers can be used fairlyandeffectively if they are focused on people who commit crime.
Boris Johnson must abolish suspicion-lessStopandSearchpowers andend the painandinjustice they wreak on so many people from Britain’s blackandminority communities.
On too many occasions, stop and search seems to mean ‘being black is enough to be suspected of being a criminal’. – Acting Leader @EdwardJDavey
It is clear – we must move further and faster to redress institutional racism in the criminal justice system. #BlackLivesMatter#PMQspic.twitter.com/AS5cqAUSwg
— Liberal Democrats (@LibDems) June 10, 2020