I am writing to you regarding the publication of the Independent Office for Police Conduct’s (IOPC) National stop and search learning report.

We know that the use of stop and search as a policing tactic is an area of longstanding concern. We are consistently told by the people we speak to, particularly those people most affected, about how damaging the use of stop and search is when decisions seem to be informed by racial stereotypes, unreasonable grounds or meaningful explanations are not given or clearly evidenced.

Our police forces can only police effectively with the trust and confidence of the community they serve. Having independent oversight, and an evidence base which helps the police to learn and improve where necessary, will help build that community confidence.

The findings and recommendations of this report are based on evidence from 37 independent investigations, appeals and reviews that have been undertaken since 2018. This has involved 12 police forces, the analysis of existing data and the views of community groups and national stakeholders.

This report is not intended to provide a comprehensive review of the use of stop and search across England and Wales, but to bring together evidence from cases we have investigated to identify areas where further improvements could be made to policing practice.

Our report does not recommend an end to the use of stop and search but highlights where we are seeing good and bad practice – and where there are opportunities to drive real learning and fundamental change in how this power is used.

Our report makes 18 recommendations – to the College of Policing, the National Police Chiefs’ Council, and the Home Office to improve policing practice and public confidence in the use of stop and search.

• We want to improve policing practice so that people from a Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic background are not disproportionately impacted by stereotyping and bias.

• Our report does not recommend that the use of stop and search be stopped, but identifies where we are seeing good and bad practice, and where there are opportunities to drive real learning and fundamental change.

• We want to see improvements to the laws and guidance that dictate how stop and search is used as a policing tactic.

• We want an end to routine handcuffing and force where it’s not appropriate, or necessary.

• We are calling for a review of how powers used alongside stop and search are recorded nationally to provide greater transparency and identify any hidden systemic issues that need to be addressed.

• This action needs to be taken to narrow the confidence gap between black and other ethnically diverse communities, and policing.

It is important that there is ongoing independent scrutiny of stop and search so that both the police and the community can be assured it is being used appropriately as a policing tactic.

It is not for us to say exactly how the police and other organisations should address the issues we have highlighted. However, our recommendations include several suggestions for ways this could be done.

We are, however, clear that the police service must listen to community and stakeholder concerns around stop and search and seek to address them to maintain and improve public confidence in the use of stop and search powers.

Our recommendations now sit with these organisations to consider and act upon.

If you have any questions about the report or would like to arrange a meeting to discuss the report, please contact our Stakeholder Engagement team.