New ‘Stop and Search’ Powers Will ‘Further Criminalise’ the Young

London: Under new powers, police will be able to stop and search people previously convicted of knife-crime offences without a reason. The powers are embedded within the Police, Crime, Sentencing & Courts Bill, which will go before MPs in a matter of weeks. Under the proposals, courts will be expected to impose Serious Violence Reduction Orders (SVROs) on anyone over 18 with a knife or weapon related conviction unless there is a ‘compelling’ reason not to. Police will then be granted powers to stop and search anyone subjected to an SVRO, regardless of whether or not they believe them to be carrying a weapon.

The proposed regime marks a significant departure from existing stop and search powers, all of which require police officers to have formed some sort of suspicion as a basis for the search. The most commonly used power, under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, requires ‘reasonable grounds’ for suspicion. Other stop and search provisions, such as section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, limits the exercise of the power to officers of a certain rank. In contrast, the new powers can be exercised by officers of any level, and do not require prior authorisation by a more senior officer.

Read more: Zoe Darling, Justce Gap, https://is.gd/p3Usdw