Theoretical Framework

The problem here is that we need to realize whether police stop and search is the reason for uplifting
racial and ethnic differences and whether it has no good to reduce crime rates. This is the main theory that
arises from the stop and search act that to which extent it can have traumatizing effects on suspects and its
role in causing racial differences. Also the misunderstandings in people's minds that how this act has
become a trauma for many people and the huge gap which exists between the police department stop and
search act and the public.

Both sides the public and police need to come on one valid point and actions should be taken to reduce
this gap otherwise police stop and search will only prevail with an aura of mistrust around it causing harm
to the public mindset and making the minorities insecure and traumatized even when they hear a police
siren. The main question or problem here is to which extent police stop and search has affected people
and if there is a feasible way to eradicate the gap between the general public and police stop and search so
that at least it seems less vulnerable and does not leave people distressed for days to come.

To get an insight and deep view let me once again quote the exact intentions of police stop and search that
is is an act intended to stop and search a person without any warrant or suspicion by a police officer.
These searches count as section 60 searches. In these searches, the main purpose is to carry out an
involuntary search without giving the suspected person any prior notice even if he/she is in a public place.
Through this stop and search act police only intend to maintain the safety of the people present around
and get the suspected person searched thoroughly for any drugs, illegal stuff like weapons, stolen
property, or anything which can be used to commit a crime.

Now let's have a glance at what the public thinks about stop and search and as far as I have researched
and watched several interviews of people who had hands-on experience of being involved in a stop and
search and had mixed views but some had an extremely traumatic memory look back at. Especially black
people said that they were drawn out of a crowd and made to feel susceptible which led them to feel
ashamed publicly. This effect not only enveloped their mind but affected their self-esteem and confidence
for days to come as they were left traumatized. Young teens quoted that they felt numb whenever they
hear a police siren instead of feeling safe they felt vulnerable.

Stop and search is a simple act intended to stop crime rates and keep the public safe. So what went wrong
is that the public is not at all a fan of this act. According to one theory, this act has led to several uplifts in
the inequality rates in the UK. As quoted in the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) stop
and search report in England and Wales, there have been more documented stops and searches of Asian
persons per capita since 1995. For black people, the rate has always been between 4 and 8 times higher
than for white people, and it has consistently been between 1.5 and 2.5 times higher for white people.
This is quite a shocking statistic when in today's times wherever we go in the world we hear diversity
prevailing and in such circumstances, police stop and search is doing quite the opposite.
The base problem stands with there the question of whether can the racial difference in the police stop
and search acts be explained or if is there a logic behind it that why is this happening. Further lining up
with the EHRC statistical search carried out over the past five years, both the black/white and Asian/white
dis-proportionality ratios have remained roughly stable. According to the PACE Codes of Practice the say
to stop and search anyone must be made set upon actual evidence about that person being doubted of
committing any certain crime at any certain time. To make it more understandable, the choice cannot be
made based on the widespread belief that a certain group of people is more likely to be involved in crime.

So, according to groundwork, interesting stats revealed that more black people were found on the streets
making them more available to be involved in any stop-and-search act. Also, debates based on
generalizations that some ethnicities are more "available" for stop and searches or more inclined to be
involved in specific sorts of crimes are extremely problematic. Such assertions are not supported by solid
evidence, and in any case, law gives the right to police officers to have "reasonable suspicion" about the
subject of the stop and search has gone against the law or not. In every such circumstance, valid mistrust
must be braced by solid evidence rather than wider generalizations about the behaviors of members of
certain ethnicities or social groupings.

This thing here is quite problematic and has also added to the questioning of the effectiveness of the stop
and search act. Which according to government and elected bodies time again and again has been claimed
to reduce the crime rate. The crime rate reduction is a good thing but there should also be an end to
discriminatory searches being carried out giving rise to racial differences. The suggested solution can be
that the lead of stop and search must be thoroughly analyzed against the damage it does to racial minority
populations' thoughts of police justification.

According to EHRC survey the police were found to be more biased towards involving or suspecting
Black/Asian people in stop-and-search acts rather than white people. So the best solution can be that
police should arrange seminars to educate the public about updates and more info about stop and search.
These seminars can be carried out state wise and awareness on state-wise social media pages of the police
should also have campaigns designed to educate people about stop and search. So that when next time a
black person is suspected he./she does not feel discriminated against. Demanding anything is unrealistic
and not helpful.

One thing that needs to be seen is that approaching "perfect police" is discriminatory and impractical.
Still, people must aim towards "good enough" policing, which reflects that police agencies should fully
try to work in a fair and coherent manner while sustaining human rights. Police stop and search must be
put into action only in circumstances where it is is valuable to be applied. Equity, freedom, the defense of
civil liberties, and success in making sure of the society safety must be the light of hope kind of concepts
in police practices.

Police stop and search legitimacy in the theoretical framework was one thing the other main thing is how
devastating mental effects it can have on the people who are involved in stop and search suddenly at a
public place as suspects. For an in-depth view let me represent you with some figures from telephone
look over supported on the basis of population of 1261 New Yorkers adolescent males in between
September 2012 and March 2013 who were between the ages of 18 and 26. The number of times that
New York Police Department officers contacted them, the nature of these contacts, any trauma they
associated with the stops, and their general anxiousness were all reported by the respondents.

In corelation with the tally of stops outlined, the meddlesome of the contacts, and what point of views of
police justice they had, participants who disclosed towering levels of more contact with the police
simultaneously reported towering levels of signs of stress, uneasiness and anxiety.

A need to review officer contacts with the public is suggested by the potency of ordeal bearded by the
participants and the well-being hazards connected with them. For accused persons who might exhibit
psychiatric down-term symptoms and to lessen any mental injury towards those apprehended, less
intrusive methods are required.

This was is in NYU but in Britain the stats and situations are even worst Black people feel unsafe when
they see police approaching them, especially young black Caribbean have developed a shield of fear and
unsafety against the local police. In many instances in the UK, black teens still have young fragile minds
which of course can easily be left traumatized by any incident. Those young black people have developed
such thoughts after a police stop and search that one even said that it made her hate her color and she no
longer wanted to be a black kid. Another young black boy traumatized by his stop and search experience
added up that all his black friends have a trauma story to tell of being involved in a stop and search and
none of his white friends have a such story to tell.

Here once again the gap is the misunderstandings between the police and the public. It is high time that
police departments of different states should have some safety net around their stop-and-search acts.
Mental health is the talk of the town everywhere in the world it should not at least be affected by the
people who are seen as saviors and who people look up to when they feel unsafe.

The following can be some of the possible solutions to put a safer end to the police stop and search so that
it can not be a reason behind racial differences and make people feel vulnerable about themselves on the
basis of their skin color. Also in these ways at least it can be less traumatizing to the suspect. As a
person's mental health once affected by such an incident they might develop a lifelong distrust and fear
towards police in their heart.
● Legal foundation: The act of stopping and searching must be supported by and carried out in
compliance with laws that specify the authority's extent and duration, the proper course of action,
and the necessary authorities.
● Reasonable Basis: Police officers need to have solid basis to justify the fact that the person whom
they are suspecting during any stop and search has committed or may have committed a crime, or
that they have unlawful products or substances. This is based on particular, unprejudiced, prompt,
and accurate facts and guidance.
● Right towards information: When during police stop and search of someone, officers are required
to give them their name and ID number, as well as an explanation of the cause behind the stop
and the legal justification for the action, handing out brochures can help in defining someone's
rights and is thought to be a healthy practice and may assist in calming things down instead of
raising misunderstanding and fear/panic.
 ● Respectful behavior: The police must always handle the suspect they stop and search keeping in
mind to act with esteem, impartiality, regality, and politeness. As this is a call for cultural
vulnerability as well as keeping into account the person being suspected in stop and search in
regards of their age, gender, and mental state.
● For the frolicking body search: Especially in searches of females, youngsters, and LGBTIQ+
people, specific rules and training must be followed: During stop-and-search procedures,
frolicking body searches of women, girls, and members of the LGBTIQ+ community must be
conducted in such a manner keeping in consideration the gender, plus the necessities that they be
conducted by a female police officer or a police officer of the suspected individual's preferable
gender.
● Special guidelines and instruction regarding stops and searches of suspects with tangible or
psychological ailments: Clear instructions on how to handle and protect suspects with tangible or
psychological ailments during police stop and search procedures should be included in training on
stop-and-search procedures.
● Information capture: Using data-capture methods, such as a pen and paper, a mobile phone, a
handheld device, a laptop computer, a dispatch radio, and/or body-worn cameras, will help with
transparency and accountability.
● Statistical analysis and monitoring are also aided by the collection of separated component parts
calculable and approximate data on police stop and search procedures to identify trends affecting
various police departments and neighborhoods.
● Independent investigation processes and oversight structures: Dependable and impartial internal
and external monitoring structures are essential deterrents to misbehavior. To find gaps in internal
rules and practices, conducting periodic audits with the assistance of impartial specialists is
thought to be the best practice.
● Training: Police forces and training facilities should provide instruction on how to use stop-and-
search powers, as well as instruction on in what ways to acknowledge and keep away from
involuntary unfairness, the effects of unfairness on their practice, in what ways to make sure of
unbiased practice, methods to limit circumstances in such an instance where suspect refuses to
give in, and grade level functions which can apply to a variety of potential scenes.
● Community involvement and aid are advised to win the trust and respect of regional
communities. Outreach programs that are committed and sensitive to the needs of minorities,
young people, and women are regarded as best practices.
● This will make sure that there is a place where issues can be discussed and resolved as well as
that any issues related to police stop and search processes are properly reported by the public to
the police.
● Diversity in hiring: To symbolize the area of community they serve and to foster cultural
diversity and unbianess within law administration agencies, solicit, retentive, and progression
based master plan for application of law by agencies should encourage a diversified task force,
which should be including police officers from a variety of gender, ethnicities, and other
traditions.

Relating to the literature reviews mentioned earlier and in my personal opinion and research carried out
by me all of the above-mentioned solutions can work wonders to close the gap in the stop and search all
will also help to reduce the misconceptions related to it. Side-by-side reduces effects on people's mental
health and does not leave them traumatized. Also most importantly do not cause any racial differences. A
little bit of working on good policing can make a huge difference and lead to effective police behavior in
public.

References
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and search powers in England and Wales. https://www. equalityhumanrights.
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Geller, A., Fagan, J., Tyler, T. and Link, B.G., 2014. Aggressive policing and the mental health of young
urban men. American journal of public health, 104(12), pp.2321-2327.

Tiratelli, M; Quinton, P; Bradford, B; (2018) Does Stop and Search Deter Crime? Evidence from Ten
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Thesis Corner.

Maeve Kenan (2020) Stop and Search: can we continue to justify the use of this police power? London;
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Jackson, D.B., Testa, A., Semenza, D.C. and Fix, R.L., 2022. Youth Mental Well-Being Following
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Gov.uk (2011). Police powers to stop and search: your rights. [online] GOV.UK. Available at:
https://www.gov.uk/police-powers-to-stop-and-search-your-rights