David Lammy, the Labour MP for Tottenham, has criticised the use of stop and search powers, calling them inherently unfair, unjust and ineffectual. Writing in The Observer, he described his own experience of being stopped at age 12, when police said he matched the description of a mugger. He argues that the practice is racially disproportionate, with black people over eight times more likely to be stopped than white people, yet less likely to be found carrying drugs.
Lammy, who authored a government review into racial disparities in the criminal justice system, said stop and search perpetuates a 'racist fantasy' that drug use is more prevalent among black and minority ethnic groups. He contrasted this with white middle-class drug users who face no police attention. The MP warned that the practice fuels distrust in the police among targeted communities and undermines public confidence.
He cited evidence that increases in stop and search do not lead to a drop in violent crime, calling it a waste of police time. Lammy quoted Theresa May's 2014 comments as home secretary, when she said 'nobody wins when stop and search is misapplied'. He questioned why the current home secretary, Sajid Javid, is expanding the practice despite cross-party agreement on its problems.
Lammy urged a move away from stop and search towards more intelligent, long-term solutions to crime, warning that the UK must either abandon the practice or abandon hope for a fair criminal justice system.
