A Community Evaluation of Recommendation 61 - Hackney

October 2004

The Metropolitan Police Authority commissioned this community evaluation of the implementation of Recommendation 61 of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry in Hackney, in order to provide a balance to the evaluations carried out by statutory agencies. This evaluation was carried out by the 1990 Trust.

The 1990 Trust is a leading Black-led human rights and race equality non-governmental organisation (NGO) and as such plays an important role in influencing, developing and analysing race related policy and legislation informed by the needs and concerns of Black groups in Britain. A key objective for the 1990 Trust is to advance the understanding of racism and to identify social policy priorities.

This community evaluation of Recommendation 61 has assessed the progress of the implementation in Hackney and explored the potential of Recommendation 61 to improve police practice of stop and search and to improve public trust and confidence in the police. Because it is the first report of its kind in Hackney, the change in stop and search and public trust and confidence cannot fully be measured, as there was no baseline data. However, this study indicates levels of recording, awareness and trust and confidence that can be used as benchmarks for further evaluation of Recommendation 61 in the coming years.

The surveys, interviews and focus groups explored the level of recording of stops during the implementation, public awareness of the implementation, the public experience of stop and search during the period of implementation, police practice and the potential of Recommendation 61 to improve Black communities’ trust and confidence in the police.

The main findings of the evaluation and 19 recommendations cover the following areas:

Maximising the number of records given out during stop and search encounters;
Increasing public awareness of Recommendation 61;
Using Recommendation 61 to improve police stop and search practices;
Tackling stop and search that appears to be motivated by Islamophobia;
Improving public trust and confidence in the police; and
Monitoring and evaluating Recommendation 61.

Recommendations

No.	Recommendation
1	To ensure that the spirit and letter of Recommendation 61 of the Stephen Lawrence Report are implemented in full, all stops and searches under any legislation should be carried out according to the Four Rs: Reason, Rights, Record, Respect. See 12.2
2	The number of records given out must be monitored, in addition to other monitoring of records completed. Form 5090 should be amended to include data on whether a copy of the record was given to the person stopped. This data must be analysed and action taken to change the practice of officers who do not routinely and consistently provide a record of a stop to the member of the public.
3	Systems must be developed to minimise the possibility of stop and search records going missing. These systems should be independently assessed and periodically audited.
4	Better information provided to the public can improve trust and confidence in the police. Therefore a continuous and increased publicity campaign is required to increase public awareness and understanding of stop and search.
5	By ensuring that the complaints process is seen as open, transparent and independent, the receipt of complaints should be seen as an indication of an increased public awareness, and not necessarily as a deterioration of the quality of stop and search encounters. However, all complaints must, of course, be rigorously investigated.
6	An independent training needs analysis should be conducted to establish the nature and level of training required to ensure the full implementation of Recommendation 61 and to help police improve and sustain the quality of encounters.
7	The results of evaluations and research on Recommendation 61 and other police practice should be built into training programmes.
8	Community organisations should be invited to assist in the design and delivery of training to police officers, and funded to do so.
9	Faith monitoring should be introduced on Form 5090 when Recommendation 61 is reviewed in spring 2005. It should be optional for the person stopped to declare their religion.
10	Recording and publication of religion should be developed across the criminal justice system as a matter of urgency.
11	The IT system currently used by Hackney Police must be integrated with the intelligence system. This may require a large, one off investment to ensure a more effective data collection system.
12	‘Extraordinary’ levels of stop and search or disproportionality should be identified through monitoring, as has already been started in Hackney. However, remedial action must be taken against officers –an ‘explanation’ given by the officer is in itself, not a sufficient remedy.
13	The data from stop and search records must be inputted in a timely manner, but this can only be effected by an analysis of the current volume of data. Additionally, data must be systematically recorded. The employment of an adequate number of data entry personnel, which hitherto has not been the case, is essential to ensure timely and accurate inputting.
14.	Police managers should use stop and search more strategically, based on data analysed. The ultimate aim is for a more intelligence led approach, but there must also be clear guidelines describing what constitutes good intelligence.
15	Develop police work in the community and links with the Black voluntary and community sector (shadowing schemes, mentoring schemes, secondments, visiting schools, close ties with community groups and community ambassadors, etc) to develop an understanding and appreciation of the work currently undertaken by the community.
16	The Police should develop a more effective system for communicating its successes in the community, which includes the disciplining, suspension and dismissal of officers found to be racist. This will provide a balance to the perceived bad publicity the police force sometimes receives.
17	A diverse workforce will enable a more positive relationship between the community and the police. Therefore an increased representation on the force from the Black community will help to restore confidence and trust in the long term.
18	Community monitoring of stop and search practice should be arranged, whereby selected individuals discreetly monitor and report on the quality of stop and search encounters and whether records are being given out. This should be facilitated by independent community organisations.
19	An annual evaluation of the implementation of Recommendation 61 should be carried out by an independent organisation in conjunction with the IPCC, but with feedback from community groups.

More information

More information can be found at:

The 1990 Trust
Room 12
Winchester House
9 Cranmer Road
Kennington Park
London SW9 6EJ
Tel: 020 7582 1990
www.blink.org.uk