Stop and Search: Children
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help tackle racially disproportionate use of force against Black children during stop and searches.
Answered by Sarah Jones
The Government is clear that stop and search must be used fairly, lawfully and without discrimination, and that any use of force must be necessary and proportionate.
Black individuals remain 3.8 times more likely to be stopped and searched than White people. The disparity remains unacceptable. We also recognise concerns about the disproportionate impact on Black children, who were stopped and searched at a rate 2.7 times higher than White children in 2024/25. A report from the Children’s Commissioner state that 17% of all stop and searches of children result in a use of force. These figures are cause for concern.
We are strengthening transparency and accountability through improved data collection on stop and search and use of force, enabling forces to better identify and tackle disparities, and we actively support the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Police Race Action Plan to drive action at force level.
Chief constables are responsible for officer conduct and supervision, with independent scrutiny provided by HMICFRS and the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
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