Black and mixed ethnicity people are still disproportionately likely to be stopped and searched and subjected to use of force by West Midlands Police, according to new data. Despite progress in recent years, police officials acknowledge that disproportionality remains a challenge in the region.
A performance update presented to the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner's Accountability and Governance Board revealed that black and mixed ethnicity individuals are 3.5 times more likely to be stopped and searched by officers compared with white individuals. Regarding the use of force, black people are 2.3 times more likely, and mixed ethnicity people are 1.5 times more likely to experience it than their white counterparts.
Current data also shows that Asian individuals are 1.9 times more likely to be stopped and searched than white people. However, Asian people are less likely to be subjected to the use of force, with a disproportionality ratio of 0.9 compared with white individuals.
PCC Questions Actions Taken
At the Board meeting, Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster expressed concern: "The report identifies continuing disproportionality in stop and search and use of force for black and mixed ethnicity communities. What action is being taken to address this and what reassurance can you provide that action is ensuring progress?"
Police Response
Assistant Chief Constable Mike O'Hara responded: "I think we've moved in the right direction. Disproportionality continues to be a challenge for law enforcement not only nationally but also internationally. We have seen a reduction in disproportionality across the board for ethnic minority groups in the West Midlands over the last few years, which is positive to see."
He added: "One of the challenges for us is we have higher rates of ethnic minority groups within highly deprived areas, which also equates to where our demand sits and where we deploy officers. But fundamentally, it sits at good quality training, good policy and procedures, good oversight and good quality accountability."
O'Hara highlighted improvements in oversight: "The level of oversight now, particularly around disproportionality, is pretty granular. Not least, we now review the body-worn footage for stop and search for all children as part of our trigger review, which I think is a really positive thing. And we report this through the police race action plan and report this into the communities as well."
Academic Research Planned
Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Andy Parsons added that the force is in the process of discussing carrying out academic research to help them "better understand disproportionality."
