§ 14. Mr. Norman Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his undertaking given to the Member for Tottenham in his letter dated 26 April 1982 that he will not allow stop and search on a random basis remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. MayhewYes, Sir.
§ Mr. AtkinsonWill the Minister clear any ambiguity that may be in his mind or that of the Home Secretary as to the true meaning of the word "random"? Would not most statisticians define it as meaning that if, in any circumstances, the police selected a number of people for search from a total in excess of the number selected and the police did not know of the existence of the smaller number so selected without criteria, that would be selection of a random number and thus contrary to the undertaking given to me by the Home Secretary on 26 April?
§ Mr. MayhewI cannot confirm that, because I do not understand it. However, I do confirm that under the Police and Criminal Evidence Bill, which is passing through the House, there is provision for the police to stop and search in the street people whom they suspect of carrying stolen property or of having prohibited articles. That provision is subject to substantial safeguards recommended by the Royal Commission and has the blessing of Lord Scarman, who says that he considers it to be necessary for the combating of street crime.
§ Mr. Bill WalkerIs my hon. and learned Friend aware that in Scotland the power of the police to stop and search for offensive weapons has been successful and has resulted in substantial convictions?
§ Mr. MayhewI am aware of that. The figures for the first 10 months of the operation of the Scottish power show 411 that, of those who were stopped and searched, about one-third were found to be carrying offensive weapons or other prohibited articles. That is a good result.