Children stopped and searched by police

WQ.314/2021

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS BY DEPUTY M.R. HIGGINS OF ST. HELIER

QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 21st JUNE 2021 ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 28th JUNE 2021

Question

Further to the answer to Written Question 280/2021, will the Minister state –

1. the reasons why the number of children stopped and searched by police officers rose from 35 in 2018 to 257 in 2020;
2. whether decisions not to activate body-worn cameras are recorded and, if so, what reasons have been given for why officers have not activated their body-worn cameras as a matter of course when stopping and searching children or adults in cases where the officer believes someone may have committed a crime; and
3. what changes, if any, are proposed to the police computer system to enable better record-keeping and extraction of data held in the database to allow for improved analysis of police activity and crime fighting, as well as the time scale for any such proposed changes?

Answer

1. the reasons why the number of children stopped and searched by police officers rose from 35 in 2018 to 257 in 2020;

As previously stated in the answer to Written Question 299/2021, the increase in the use of stop and search powers over the period in question is a result of dedicated action to respond to the behaviour and actions of some young people.  

2. whether decisions not to activate body-worn cameras are recorded and, if so, what reasons have been given for why officers have not activated their body-worn cameras as a matter of course when stopping and searching children or adults in cases where the officer believes someone may have committed a crime; and

Whilst the Body-Worn Camera Policy requires officers to activate their camera during encounters with the public, a requirement reinforced regularly by supervisors and the Professional Standards Department, there is no obligation for officers to record a decision not to activate their camera.

However, given the expectations of the policy, officers are expected to be able to explain why they have not used their camera in any given set of circumstances.

3. what changes, if any, are proposed to the police computer system to enable better record- keeping and extraction of data held in the database to allow for improved analysis of police activity and crime fighting, as well as the time scale for any such proposed changes?

Record keeping in relation to the use of stop and search powers is considered comprehensive. As such there are currently no plans to amend or further enhance any related computer system.

The information requested by the Deputy in Written Question 280/2021 was held within the IT system, however the volume and level of detail requested meant that this was not able to be provided within the specified timeframe.

Each use of stop and search powers is unique, and officers are required to formulate and justify their grounds for every use of stop and search. Any person who is subject to a stop and search has the right to be provided with a record of the search specifying the grounds given. It is also within their right to challenge an officer's decision, which would then be subject to a structured process overseen by the Professional Standards Department.