§ 21. Mr. EffordTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of stop and search in the prevention and detection of crime. [112593]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeWe strongly support the proper use of stop and search as an essential tool in the prevention and detection of crime, as did the report of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, published in February 1999. However, it is essential that these powers are used fairly, to command the confidence of all sections of the community. We have commissioned a wide-ranging programme of research to help broaden understanding of stop and search and how it can be improved. This includes a project focusing on the value of stop and search as a tool to detect and prevent crime.
§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the impact on his policy of Article 5 of the ECHR on his policy on the detention element involved in police stop and search operations. [114377]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeWe believe that the police power of stop and search is compatible with the Convention, provided of course that it is exercised lawfully.