Councillors concerned by stop-and-search disparity

BLACK and ethnic minority children in Hampshire are up to five times more likely to be stopped and searched compared to white children, new research suggests.

Early data being compiled by Hampshire County Council and the youth offending team shows black children across the county are more likely to be stopped and searched by the police. The news comes after Home Secretary Priti Patel outlined plans to lift all restrictions on police stop and search powers.

Councillors on the county council’s children and young people select committee have voiced their concerns about the disparity.

The Independent member for Cowplain and Hart Plain, Cllr Prad Bains, said: “Questions need to be asked about that racial disparity and what is causing it.

“My concern is that schools haven’t been properly dealing with discriminatory incidents – as the council has previously discussed – and the lack of support being offered could make these children more vulnerable.”

Conservative member for North East Havant, Cllr Jackie Branson, said: “In my area the vast majority of people are white working class people, so you would think they would be the ones causing problems for police.

“But I also wonder how we get over the perception that the police aren’t doing anything, or how children can ‘get away with murder’ as some people on social media might suggest.”

Government figures for England and Wales suggest the proportions of youth cautions issued have fallen for white children but increased for black and ethnic minority children.

Meanwhile, white people are responsible for six times as many criminal offences, while black people are more likely to be victims of homicide.

Nikki Shave, the head of Hampshire’s youth offending team, admitted there is ‘plenty of work to do’, and said: “This is the number one priority for us at the moment.

“We have some growing local data and there is evidence to suggest children from black and mixed heritage are more likely in Hampshire to be stopped and searched.

“We have to be absolutely certain that what we’re doing is correct.”