The South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner team hosted a stop and search awareness seminar on Thursday, 8th December.

It took place in Jersey Marine, Swansea and was attended by members of the third sector and youth workers from across South Wales who work with black and minority ethnic communities.

The aim of the event was to raise awareness about how stop and search is implemented by South Wales Police and to explain the scrutiny role of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s team. Delegates were given presentations on the practice of stop and search which included insights on the latest data in South Wales.

In South Wales, as is the case across the UK, black and minority ethnic people are statistically more likely to be stopped and searched than white people. The nature of this disproportionality was discussed in detail during the seminar and delegates were able to look in detail at what the numbers meant.

Hannah Jenkins-Jones said:

“Disproportionality is unfortunately a real issue - it is therefore crucial to ensure that stop and search is continuously monitored to ensure that the power is used in a fair and non-discriminatory manner by officers.

“The event was a first of its kind for us and it was encouraging to see that it was well attended by people who work with young minority ethnic people.

“Our aim through events like this one, is to educate and inform, but at the same time listen to what people’s views are. It is only through listening that we will understand how and where the police can improve the way it does things and what issues need to be addressed."

Members of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s team conduct dip sampling exercises which involve reviewing stop and search forms completed by police officers, as well as reviewing body worn videos.
Stop and search is also scrutinised through the force's ‘Independent Advisory Group’ and through the Police and Crime Commissioner’s ‘Police Accountability and Legitimacy Group’, both of which contain independent community members. There are also local Community Cohesion Groups which consist of community members who study the use of stop and search in their areas.

An Independent Oversight and Advisory Panel was recently established in Wales to help address the systemic discrimination and disadvantage experienced by Black and Minority Ethnic people across the whole Criminal Justice System. Working with the Criminal Justice Board for Wales, the panel, which consists of 12 independent community members who are not employed by a criminal justice agency, will provide vital scrutiny and hold the Criminal Justice Board for Wales and the Race Equality Taskforce to account as they work towards delivering the Criminal Justice in Wales Anti-Racism Action Plan, which was launched in September, 2022.

Image of Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Emma Wools (second from left) with Crimestoppers ‘Fearless’ outreach workers Kendra Ross, Alistair Smith, and Kieran Porter, at the seminar in Swansea.