Stop and search strip searches (FOI ref: 1195A/24)

Request

Please provide information for each of the following periods, as specified in the tables in the Appendix: 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024. For the sake of clarity, the below questions refer to pre-arrest searches, hence the references to PACE Code A, wherever the location of the search (on the street, in a police van, in the police station).  

In your police force area:

1. What was the total number of stop and searches for all reasons, where a more thorough search occurred (sometimes referred to as a ‘partial strip search’) (PACE code A 2023, para. 3.6)? PACE Code A defines a ‘more thorough search’ at para. 3.6: “a more thorough search (e.g. by requiring a person to take off a T-shirt) [...] Any search involving the removal of more than an outer coat, jacket, gloves, headgear or footwear, or any other item concealing identity”. Please provide data sorted by (self-defined) ethnic group, gender, and age.

2. What was the total number of stop and searches for all reasons, where a more thorough search occurred (PACE code A 3.6) and it was a positive search? Please provide data sorted by (self-defined) ethnic group, gender, and age.

3. What was the total number of stop and searches for all reasons, where a search involved exposure of intimate parts of the body (sometimes referred to as a ‘full strip search’) (PACE Code A 2023 3.7)? Please provide data sorted by (self-defined) ethnic group, gender, and age.

4. What was the total number of stop and searches for all reasons, where a search involved exposure of intimate parts of the body (PACE Code A 3.7) and where it was a positive search? By positive search, we mean either “any outcome other than ‘no further action’” or “item found, either linked or unlinked to search reason”, depending on what definition is used in your database and is capable of being searched. If a different definition is used to the two provided here, please clarify what definition is being used when providing the data.

5. What was the total number of stop and searches for drugs (section 1 Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and section 23(2) Misuse of Drugs Act 1971), where a more thorough search occurred (PACE code A 3.6)? Please provide data sorted by (self-defined) ethnic group, gender, and age.

6. What was the total number of stop and searches for drugs (section 1 Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and section 23(2) Misuse of Drugs Act 1971), where a more thorough search occurred (PACE code A 3.6) and where drugs were found? Please provide data sorted by (self-defined) ethnic group, gender, and age.

7. What was the total number of stop and searches for drugs (section 1 Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and section 23(2) Misuse of Drugs Act 1971), where a search involved exposure of intimate parts of the body (PACE Code A 3.7)? Please provide data sorted by (self-defined) ethnic group, gender, and age.

8. What was the total number of stop and searches for drugs (section 1 Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and section 23(2) Misuse of Drugs Act 1971), where a search involved exposure of intimate parts of the body (PACE Code A 3.7) and where drugs were found? Please provide data sorted by (self-defined) ethnic group, gender, and age.

9. When providing the data to answer the above questions, please confirm whether the number of more thorough searches involving exposure of intimate parts is included in the total number of more thorough searches. For example, if there were 20 ‘more thorough searches’ in the year X and 8 ‘more thorough searches involving exposure of intimate parts’ in the same year X, please confirm whether those 8 MTSEIP have already been counted in the 20 MTS.

Response

Please find attached (1195A_24_attachment).

Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from a number of data sources used by forces for police purposes. The detail collected to respond specifically to your request is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when interpreting those data.

The figures provided therefore are our best interpretation of relevance of data to your request, but you should be aware that the collation of figures for ad hoc requests may have limitations and this should be taken into account when those data are used.

If you decide to write an article / use the enclosed data we would ask you to take into consideration the factors highlighted in this document so as to not mislead members of the public or official bodies, or misrepresent the relevance of the whole or any part of this disclosed material.