PM backs police on stop and search

POLICING: Boris Johnson has defended police stop and search powers amid claims of racial prejudice, as a raft of councils vow to review their monuments and statues.

At Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Johnson said he understood the “legitimate” feelings of people over the “appalling” death of George Floyd in the US.

BORIS JOHNSON has defended the use of police stop and search powers amid claims over racial prejudice, as a raft of councils vow to review the “appropriateness” of monuments and statues.

During a series of exchanges at Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Johnson insisted he understood the “legitimate” feelings of people in the UK over the “appalling” death in the US of George Floyd.

When challenged over claims black people were 47 times more likely than white people to be stopped by police, he acknowledged the powers should be used “sensitively” but said stop and search is an important tool in combating violent crime.

“I do believe that stop and search, amongst many other things, can be a very important utensil in fighting knife crime,” he said. “It does work. It is not the whole answer but it is part of the mix.”

The Prime Minister’s comments came as a raft of councils vowed to review monuments and statues in the wake of anti-racism protests over the death of George Floyd in the US. The 46-year-old, who died in May when a police officer held his knee on his neck for several minutes, was laid to rest in Houston on Tuesday as mourners called for urgent reform.

Two slave trader statues have been pulled down in England in recent days as tensions rose, with thousands backing petitions for hospitals and universities to rename buildings. London Metropolitan University is to drop the name of 17th-century merchant Sir John Cass from one of its buildings, while Bristol has announced a commission to research the city’s “true history”.

Business Minister Nadhim Zahawi called for decisions to be taken democratically, saying that people should be able to examine

Stop and search can be very important in fighting knife crime.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson responding to complaints of racism in their use.

the UK’s history “warts and all” without “self loathing”.

In Leeds, calls mounted to remove a statue of two-time British prime minister Sir Robert Peel, with organiser Sami Pinarbasi describing the statesman, who founded the Metropolitan Police, as an “icon of hate and racism”.

Coun Judith Blake, leader of Leeds Council, said it appeared to be a “misunderstanding”, as it was Robert Peel’s father who worked in the cotton trade.

However, as she launched a review of all the council’s monuments yesterday, she acknowledged that Leeds “needed to be more representative” in how it honours historical figures.

Condemning the defacement of a Queen Victoria statue on Woodhouse Moor, which was daubed with Black Lives Matter graffiti on Tuesday, she said: “We have strong policies on graffiti. It’s something we don’t tolerate.

“But we recognise feelings are running high. That’s why we want to reach out and set up a proper dialogue, so we can move forward in a peaceful and constructive way, that takes all views into account.”