Knife crime in Sussex - controversial stop and search powers 'most effective' police tactic
Officers should have ‘real confidence’ to use stop and search when they have the right grounds, according to Deputy Chief Constable Jo Shiner.
Her backing of the divisive police power comes as the UK experiences a wave of high-profile knife crimes.
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Hide AdThis week officers in Sussex have joined colleagues from across the country in a zero tolerance crackdown on knife carrying, called Op Sceptre.
Answering questions from police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne this afternoon, DCC Shiner said: “It’s really important that we use all of the tools that we have in relation to knives effectively.
“Stop and search is probably one of the most effective ones. We really encourage officers to use it.
“We do a lot of training, particularly of the new officers who are coming in now, around having real confidence to stop search people where they have the right grounds.
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Hide Ad“And also what’s important is that we make sure we are stop searching the right people for the right reasons and there’s no bias.”
What do you think about the use of stop and search? Email your views to Crime Editor Michael Drummond: [email protected]