By Ruth Halkon 

Police use stop and search powers to search people who they suspect to be in possession of unlawful items, such as illegal drugs, weapons, or stolen property. The power is seen by the police as a valuable tool in the fight against crime, both deterring offenders and preventing further offending. However the evidence on its effectiveness is mixed, and there are gaps in the data, particularly surrounding its use in the UK context. Moreover, stop and search is associated with potential harm, both to individuals and to communities as a whole. This briefing will examine the current evidence in relation to stop and search and how it is practiced in the UK, examining in particular questions of its disproportionate use against young people and those from minority ethnic groups 

London: The Police Foundation, 2024, 26p.

By Marly van Bruchem, Karin Proost, Joris van Ruysseveldt & Marie Rosenkrantz Lindegaard

Studies on bystander behavior showed that bystanders regularly intervene in conflicts and crime in public in order to de-escalate, yet these studies focus solely on the way citizens manage situations in the absence of police. Bystanders, however, are also present while police officers carry out their work and might help or challenge their performance. Based on 15 interviews with police officers and participant observation during 12 police shifts in the Netherlands, this study provides insights into the way officers perceive bystanders and experience their actions. Police officers describe bystanders as a dilemma they have to face during encounters: they want to convey a positive and fair image of themselves towards bystanders, yet also want to control the situation and show their authority. The diversity of bystander actions and the dilemmas officers face imply that more attention should be given to bystanders of police action in both research and training.

Police Practice and Research, An International Journal, June 2024