Written Question·Home Office·UIN 103871

Stop and Search: Ethnic Groups

Tabled: 7 January 2026

Answered: 13 January 2026

Question

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will consider the potential merits of piloting the use of decision-breaks and real-time supervision as a way of tackling racial profiling in the application of stop and search powers.

Answer

Sarah Jones

Stop and search is a vital tool for tackling crime, but it must be exercised fairly and lawfully. Using ethnicity as a factor in deciding whether to stop and search someone, except where pursuing a specific description, is unlawful. Code A of the Police a...

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