Stop and searches of British Asians 1.4 times higher than those of white groups, data shows

STOP and searches of British Asians by police in England and Wales were 1.4 times higher than those from a white group for the year ending March 2023, figures show.

In England and Wales, there were eight stop and searches of individuals from an Asian background per 1,000 population during the period, according to Home Office statistics.

Cumbria had the highest overall rate of stop and search of individuals from an Asian background at 23 stop and searches per 1,000 population, followed by Merseyside (15 per 1,000 population).

The lowest overall rate of stop and search of individuals from an Asian background was by Wiltshire (1.4 per 1,000 population).

The data also revealed that black people were 5.5 times more likely than white people to be stopped and searched last year. It is a fall from 2021-22, when black people were 6.2 times as likely to be searched.

People identifying as mixed were searched at a rate 1.7 times higher than white people, and people from other ethnic groups 1.3 times higher.

The data further stated that almost one-quarter (23 per cent) of searches of black and Asian people for firearms resulted in an arrest, a higher proportion compared to all other groups.

According to the report, one in five stop and searches last year were carried out on children.

Just over 107,800 were on those aged under 18, including 64 searches on children under, meaning searches on under-18s made up 20 per cent of last year's total. That is up from 18 per cent the year before and 17 per cent in 2020-21.

Males aged 15 to 19 had the highest rate of stop and search, at 71 stop and searches per 1,000 population in the year ending March 2023.

Males aged 15 to 34 from ethnic minorities (excluding white minorities) made up 26 per cent of stop and search in the year ending March 2023, despite only being 2.8 per cent of the population.

The highest rate of stop and search was for males aged 15 to 19 from ethnic minorities, who were searched at a rate of 111 per 1,000 people—twice as high as that of white people in the same age group.

The report claimed that there was a decrease in the number of searches of people who self-defined as black British or British Asian.

The number of searches of people who self-defined as black decreased by 6,409 (10 per cent) from 65,452 to 59,043. The number of searches of people who self-defined as Asian decreased by 2,267 (5 per cent) from 48,901 to 46,634.

The Metropolitan Police continued to account for a large proportion of all stop and searches conducted (32 per cent) during the period.

According to the report, the Met had the highest number and proportion of searches using force, followed by Thames Valley Police, Hertfordshire Constabulary and Cambridgeshire Constabulary.

Police in England and Wales conducted a total of 547,003 stop and searches, which represents a three percent increase compared to the previous year (an increase of 16,033 from 530,970).

The number of arrests following searches under all legislation increased by 7,019 (up 10 per cent to 74,097) in the year ending March 2023.