Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons he is increasing the use of section 60 stop and searches without first reviewing their effectiveness in tackling crime; and if will undertake such a review.

The government has made it simpler for police in seven forces particularly affected by serious violent crime to use stop and search powers set out Section 60 (s60) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, in anticipation of serious violence.

These changes will help the police to tackle serious violence by enabling 3,000 more officers to authorise their use. S60s are publicly communicated, which the police believe can deter individuals from carrying weapons into areas in which these powers are known to be in operation.

These changes are being piloted for up to 12 months, and we have been clear that no one should be stopped based on their race or ethnicity. All forces will continue to collect and report data to the Home Office on the race and ethnicity of people searched, and the use of stop and search will also be inspected by HMICFRS as part of their annual inspection round.