PSNI accused of 'continued racial disparity' in stop and search figures

Two organisations in the North have raised concerns regarding the PSNI’s most recent stop and search figures.

Naomi Green, Programmes Manager with the North West Migrants’ Forum said the organisation had “known for some time that people from minority backgrounds are more likely to be stopped”.

Amnesty International said the stop and search figures, released on Wednesday, (May 24) showed a “disproportionate” use on people from minoritised ethnic communities and on children.

The stop and search figures showed: 23, 650 people were stopped and searched / questioned, a 4% increase on the previous year; people from minoritised ethnic communities almost twice as likely to be stopped and searched; and more than 2,500 children stopped and searched.

According to Amnesty International, in the last 12 months, to the end of March this year, of 23,650 stops, people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds accounted for 1,291 stops - 5.5% of the total - despite making up just 3.4% of the total population according to the 2021 census.

Irish Travellers were the ethnic group most disproportionately searched by the PSNI, accounting for 355 stops - 2.7% of the overall figure - despite making up just 0.1% of the Northern Ireland population.

Children aged between 13 to 17 years make up only 6% of the population but accounted for almost 11% of all stop and searches too.

Commenting on the figures, Naomi Green (NWMF) said: “We have known for some time that people from minority backgrounds are more likely to be stopped.

“A lot of work needs to be done in the PSNI to address stereotypes and preconceived ideas about minority communities. Also instances where victims of hate crime or other crime have been investigated/searched or had immigration status questioned - despite being victims. This is of particular concern.

“We also know racial profiling has been used in cross-border travel.

“The PSNI is not only the least racially diverse police force overall in the UK. It is also the least representative of the increasingly diverse community in which it operates," said Ms Green.

Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International UK’s Northern Ireland Director, said: “If you are from a minoritised ethnic community, you are almost twice as likely to be stopped and searched by the PSNI than if you are from the white majority community. The police need to explain why, year after year, this continues to be the case.

“Black and minority ethnic people in Northern Ireland tell us they feel over-policed, yet under-protected when they themselves are victims of racist hate crime.

“The use of stop and search on children is also worrying. There were more than 2,500 stops of children under these powers last year, including children aged 12 years and younger. Yet fewer than 3% of these searches resulted in arrest, suggesting the vast majority of stops were unnecessary.

“Every groundless stop and search can leave a long-lasting negative impact on community relations as well as on the individuals themselves.”