The Fife Division (Police Scotland) Stop and Search Pilot Evaluation Findings and Recommendations
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The Fife Division (Police Scotland) Stop and Search Pilot Evaluation Findings and Recommendations Dr Megan O’Neill, University of Dundee Dr Liz Aston, Edinburgh Napier University Dr Agata Krause, University of Dundee June 2015 CONTENTS Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................................... 6 1 Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................... 7 1.1 Main Findings ................................................................................................................................ 8 1.2 Recommendations ...................................................................................................................... 13 2 Background to the Evaluation ............................................................................................................. 18 2.1 Stop and search in Scotland ........................................................................................................ 18 2.2 Public confidence and policing ................................................................................................... 20 3 Methodology ....................................................................................................................................... 22 3.1 Quantitative Methods ................................................................................................................. 22 3.1.1 Operationalising intelligence and information: .................................................................. 22 3.1.2 Stop and search outputs ..................................................................................................... 22 3.1.3 Selection of comparator Division ........................................................................................ 23 3.1.4 Selection of case study areas .............................................................................................. 23 3.2 Qualitative Methods ................................................................................................................... 25 3.2.1 Observations and interviews .............................................................................................. 25 3.2.2 Documentary analysis ......................................................................................................... 26 3.2.3 Coding ................................................................................................................................. 26 3.2.4 Execution of data analysis ................................................................................................... 27 3.3 Limitations of the Evaluation ...................................................................................................... 28 4 Findings ............................................................................................................................................... 31 4.1 Stop and search data .................................................................................................................. 31 4.1.1 Analysis of overall stop search data during and pre-pilot in Fife and a comparison area: . 31 4.1.2 Analysis of stop and search data for Fife during the pilot by gender, ethnicity and age ... 32 4.1.3 Analysis of legislative and consensual stop and search data by age for Fife during the pilot 33 4.2 Development of the pilot and its aims ........................................................................................ 34 4.2.1 Awareness regarding the development of the pilot and its aims ....................................... 34 4.2.2 Perception of the pilot as a response to political and media pressure .............................. 34 4.2.3 Knowledge of pilot aims ...................................................................................................... 35 4.2.4 Volume of stop and search: an unintended outcome of the pilot ..................................... 36 4.3 Process of Implementing the new approach to stop and search ............................................... 38 4.3.1 The aim – process – outcome relationship ......................................................................... 38 2 4.4 Improving the data on which stop and search is based ............................................................. 41 4.4.1 The analysis process ............................................................................................................ 41 4.4.2 Regularity of stop and search data analysis ........................................................................ 43 4.4.3 Continuity in the format of stop and search reports .......................................................... 44 4.4.4 Comparison with Forth Valley ............................................................................................. 45 4.4.5 Accuracy of stop and search data ....................................................................................... 46 4.4.6 Contextualisation of stop and search data ......................................................................... 47 4.4.7 Dissemination of the reports .............................................................................................. 50 4.5 Improving accountability: ........................................................................................................... 52 4.5.1 Compliance recording checks ............................................................................................. 52 4.5.2 Monitoring of crime trends ................................................................................................. 54 4.5.3 Dip Sampling of Public satisfaction ..................................................................................... 54 4.5.4 Monitor and learn from complaints about the police ........................................................ 57 4.5.5 Independent reporting to scrutiny boards ......................................................................... 57 4.5.6 The Equality Impact Assessment ........................................................................................ 58 4.6 Improving confidence ................................................................................................................. 60 4.6.1 Issuing letters to parents/guardians of children stopped and searched ............................ 60 4.6.2 Providing advice slips to all persons stopped and searched ............................................... 62 4.6.3 Quality assurance by local lay advisory group and community engagement groups ......... 64 4.6.4 Work with local schools, colleges and universities ............................................................. 68 4.6.5 Training of staff ................................................................................................................... 70 4.6.6 Aide memories .................................................................................................................... 72 4.6.7 Internal feedback on the pilot ............................................................................................ 73 4.6.8 Media and social media exposure ...................................................................................... 74 4.7 The extent of change to police and staff practice: data-informed stops ................................... 77 4.7.1 ‘Business as usual’ ............................................................................................................... 77 4.7.2 Intelligence driven decision-making ................................................................................... 78 4.7.3 Experiential knowledge about stop and search .................................................................. 80 4.8 The extent of change to police practice: conduct of a stop and search ..................................... 82 4.8.1 Recording a stop and search ............................................................................................... 82 4.8.2 Advice slips and phone numbers ........................................................................................ 82 4.8.3 Protocol with young people ................................................................................................ 83 4.8.4 The pilot effect .................................................................................................................... 84 3 4.8.5 Defining a stop and search .................................................................................................. 88 4.8.6 Stop and search and the problem of public accountability ................................................ 88 4.8.7 Consensual stop and search ................................................................................................ 90 4.9 Views of police officers and staff: the degree of change ............................................................ 93 4.9.1 Highlighting positive outcomes of the Pilot ........................................................................ 94 4.9.2 No improvement/knowledge about the outcomes of the pilot ......................................... 94 4.9.3 Opinions about the use of stop and search in general ....................................................... 95 4.10 Views of members of the public: stop and search and confidence in the police ....................... 97 4.10.1 Findings from police consultation events ..........................................................................