News from Caroline Russell: Met ignore police watchdog stop and search recommendations

The Metropolitan Police Service is still stopping and searching based solely on the smell of cannabis, despite accepting Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) recommendations against doing so, questioning from Caroline Russell reveals.

In Mayor’s Question Time today, the Mayor stated that although the Met has accepted IOPC guidance to cease stop and searching based solely on the smell of cannabis, ‘there shouldn't have been any[arrests], but we aren't able to give a number to confirm it’s zero’.

Caroline has heard from young people that the police are still stopping and searching solely on the smell of cannabis.

Caroline Russell says:

The Met going back on their word and apparently continuing to stop and search solely on the smell of cannabis is a failure in leadership and puts young people in danger of being unfairly targeted.

“It has been eight months since the Met accepted the IOPC recommendations, so it’s worrying that the Mayor could not give a clear answer about whether this practice has stopped.

“More than half of the people stopped and searched in the last year were teenagers and young people, and it has a big impact on their lives and how they view the police. 

“These recommendations cannot be taken lightly, and it is the Mayor’s duty to make sure they filter down to the actions of all officers on the street.

Caroline is calling on the Mayor to respond to Hackney Account’s ‘Policing in Hackney: challenges from youth in 2020 report’, which is based on young people’s experiences. Recommendations based on their findings include conducting an independent evaluation of the Territorial Support Group, which specialise in public order policing.