Met’s ‘ethnic records’ to tackle race bias in road stops

BRITAIN’S biggest police force is to record the ethnicity of drivers stopped in their cars following claims that black motorists were being racially profiled.

In a pilot scheme believed to be the first of its kind, Scotland Yard will record the ethnic background, sex and age of drivers as well as the location, time of the vehicle stop, and make and model of the car.

It follows controversies last year after officers stopped prominent figures. Athlete Bianca Williams, who has competed for England, and her partner were stopped, searched and handcuffed in west London in July while their baby was in the car.

Nothing unlawful was found and the case is being investigated by the police watchdog. Until now, police have only had to record the ethnicity of those they stop on foot, which has exposed the disproportionality in stop and search. A small trial run in London last year suggested black drivers were six times more likely to be stopped than white ones.

The new six-month trial is part of a package of reforms demanded by London Mayor Sadiq Khan after last year’s Black Lives Matter protests and concerns about racism within the force. Met commander Kyle Gordon said: ‘We want all communities to have the same level of trust in us and for us to be the most trusted police service in the world.’

Mr Khan said traffic stops were ‘an important tool to keep Londoners safe’, but added: ‘Black Londoners are concerned... and this pilot will help us to assess and address concerns about racial profiling.’