1. Police Stop & Search in Northern Ireland
Dr John Topping
School of Social Sciences, Education & Social Work
Queen’s University, Belfast
@drjohntopping

2. ‘The Chief Constable should ensure that in the exercise of their function, officers have regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of all persons under the age of 18 years…in the best interests of a child and in compliance with obligations under Article 3 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child’ (para 1.1) If these fundamental principles are not observed the use of powers to stop and search may be drawn into question. Failure to use the powers in the proper manner reduces their effectiveness…(para. 1.3)
“We have processes in place to ensure that stop and search powers are used properly, legitimately and proportionately in preventing and detecting crime”
(PSNI, 2017 The Detail TV, 29th March)

3. Stop and Search: It Just ‘Works’?
Only reduces number of
‘disruptable’ crimes by 0.2%
For every 25 crimes recorded,
only 1 arrest from S&S
No matter the arrest rates, doesn’t factor
in attrition or clearance
Potentially 25% of all S&S
does not meet legal threshold
Only 7% arrest rate for PSNI overall vs.
16% for England and Wales
(PSNI, 2016; HMIC, 2013; Miller et al., 2000)

4. Changing Stop & Search Profiles: England & Wales, Met Police & PSNI (source: Data.police.uk; PSNI data)

5. Public Impact of Stop and Search
‘whether justified or not, many…believe that the police routinely abuse their powers…The belief here is as important as the fact’ (Scarman, 1981:para.4.67)
PSNI Stop and Search rate =
19 per 1000 population
VS.
Stop and Search rate Eng./Wales =
7 per 1000 population
(Home Office, 2016; PSNI, 2017)

6. Key Statistics For PSNI Stop & Search
PACE-type powers accounts for 99% of S&S in Eng./Wales, only 71% for PSNI
2010/11 to 2016/17 c.28,000 children stopped and searched in NI by PSNI
For 2015/16 PSNI figures:
presuming majority of children not stopped under security powers, u18s (4588) = 19% of PSNI S&S
15-17 y/o males = 2% NI pop
but = 14% of PSNI S&S (3475)
i.e. comprise 20 per 1000 of NI pop.,
but being stopped at rate of 96 per 1000
PSNI use of stop and search has
increased by 68% 2004/5 – 2015/16
‘One of the boys questioned whether it had been appropriate to use security legislation to obtain his details…Enquiries also showed that there had been no reports or intelligence…the investigator concluded that he was not satisfied the search…had been necessary’ (OPONI, 2016)

7. 40% of young people in North Belfast stopped & questioned
Since 1 April 2011…PSNI has included age information in restricted quarterly stop and search statistical reports that are provided to the Policing Board…A total of 4,827 (16%) were under 18 years. 12,434 (41%) were aged between 18 and 25 years…That does not of itself demonstrate that the powers are being used inappropriately but it certainly should alert the PSNI to that possibility’ (NIPB, 2013)
Being stop & questioned and being asked to move on were the two most frequently occurring forms of contact with PSNI (Hamilton et al., 2003)
38% of young people reported experiencing ‘disrespectful behaviour’ whilst interacting with PSNI
29% of young people stopped & questioned without reason (Nelson et al., 2010)
40% of young people in North
Belfast stopped & questioned
‘for no reason’ (NIPB/ICR, 2005)

8. Total PSNI Stop and Search 2010/11 – 2016/17: Outcomes By Age (source: PSNI Data)
Action Rate = 11%
74223
Overall PSNI S&S
‘arrest’ rate = 6%
Action Rate = 8.7%
Action Rate = 10.7%
Action Rate = 16.6%
1 – 5 years old
11 – 14 years old
15 – 17 years old
18 – 25 years old

9. 11-14 Years Old: Stop & Searches, Items Found & Further Action
11-14 Years Old: Stop & Searches, Items Found & Further Action* by PSNI 2015/16 (source: PSNI data 2016) *arrest, reported to PPS, cautioned, community resolution
11-14 male pop. = 58,189 = 32 per 1000
Stop & Search rate = 13 per 1000
Total number of stop and searches
(4%)

10. 11-14 Years Old: Stop & Searches, Items Found & Further Action
11-14 Years Old: Stop & Searches, Items Found & Further Action* by PSNI 2016/7 (source: PSNI data 2017) *arrest, reported to PPS, cautioned, community resolution or ‘other’
11-14 male pop. = 58,189 = 32 per 1000
Stop & Search rate = 9 per 1000
Total number of stop and searches
(6.7%)

11. 15 - 17 Years Old: Stop & Searches, Items Found & Further Action
Years Old: Stop & Searches, Items Found & Further Action* by PSNI 2015/16 (source: PSNI data 2016) *arrest, reported to PPS, cautioned, community resolution
male pop. = 36,000 = 20 per 1000
Stop & Search rate = 96 per 1000
Total number of stop and searches
(8%)

12. 15 - 17 Years Old: Stop & Searches, Items Found & Further Action
Years Old: Stop & Searches, Items Found & Further Action* by PSNI 2016/17 (source: PSNI data 2017) *arrest, reported to PPS, cautioned, community resolution or ‘other’
male pop. = 36,000 = 20 per 1000
Stop & Search rate = 82 per 1000
Total number of stop and searches
(8%)

13. 18 - 25 Years Old: Stop & Searches, Items Found & Further Action
Years Old: Stop & Searches, Items Found & Further Action* by PSNI 2015/16 (source: PSNI data 2016) *arrest, reported to PPS, cautioned, community resolution
male pop. = 98,250 = 54 per 1000
Stop & Search rate = 124 per 1000
Total number of stop and searches

14. 18 - 25 Years Old: Stop & Searches, Items Found & Further Action
Years Old: Stop & Searches, Items Found & Further Action* by PSNI 2016/17 (source: PSNI data 2017) *arrest, reported to PPS, cautioned, community resolution or ’other’
male pop. = 98,250 = 54 per 1000
Stop & Search rate = 117 per 1000
Total number of stop and searches

15. Age Distribution of PSNI Stop & Search 2010/11 – 2015/16 (source: PSNI data)
Total no. stop & search
Recorded age categories

16. Overview of Key Issues PSNI Stop & Search in NI
Lack of evidence of effectiveness for S&S Code of Practice A principles brought into question Need to recognise social ’costs’ of S&S Need for more detailed public data Legal compliance & obligations difficult to monitor – minimal vs. maximal compliance Evidence rest of U.K. shows S&S is an operational choice, rather than necessity

17. PSNI District Stop & Search Rates 2016/17 (source: PSNI statistics, 2017)
Arrest Rate
Stop & Search rate
per 1000 population
Crimes per 1000 population
Antrim & Newtownabbey
5.6%
10.7
48.9
Ards & North Down
5.4%
5.6
39.1
Belfast City 9%
27.2
105.1
Causeway Coast & Glens
5.1%
15.3
43.9
Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon 17
47.8
Derry City & Strabane
3.7%
25.1
62.7
Fermanagh & Omagh
8.3%
11.5
43.1
Lisburn & Castlereagh
6.7%
21.5
42.2
Mid & East Antrim
3.3%
15.9
40.3
Mid Ulster
5.5%
34.6
Newry & Mourne
3.5%
16.1
49.4
PSNI average
stop & search rate
= 17.3 per 1000
average
stop & search rate Eng./Wales = 5 per 1000
PSNI average
arrest rate = 6%
average
Arrest rate Eng./Wales = 17%

18. PSNI Stop & Search Trend 2004/5-2016/17: All Powers
(source: PSNI, 2018)

19. 19 per
1000 pop.
12 per 1000 pop.
*Combinations of powers were not counted pre-08/09 therefore these figures are a count of the number of persons stopped.
Figures from 08/09 are a count of the number of times each individual power was used.