Stop and Search Community Scrutiny Panel Minutes - 1st July 2021
Thursday 1st July 2021, 18:30 - 20:00 via Skype.
Attendees
Panel Members: Robin Agascar, Gareth Kitchen, Richard Townshend, Steve Talbot, John Sharrock, Sarah Dixon
Police Officers and Staff: A/Insp. Ash Shingler, PS Grant White, Annabel Staley
Apologies: Kay Selwyn, Susan Taylor
Minutes: Annabel Staley
All panel members introduced themselves. They decided to first look at Stop Searches carried out in Stroud between 1st May 2021 and 1st July 2021.
129369
Date: June 2021
Time: 19:10 – 19:15
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: White
Age: over 18
Location: Stroud
Grounds: During foot patrol, officers walked past two males and there was a strong smell of cannabis coming from one male. One stated “I smoked a joint earlier”.
Legislation: Sec.23: Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 Outcome: Caution – a single cigarette, a mix of tobacco and cannabis, was seized. Panel Decision: GREEN
129414
Date: June 2021
Time: 18:28 – 19:15
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: Mixed: White and Black Caribbean
Age: under 18
Location: Stroud
Grounds: Officers spotted a group of youths and could see them smoking something. Officers could smell cannabis coming from their direction.
Legislation: Sec.23: Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
Outcome: NFA Panel Decision: GREEN
129412
Date: June 2021
Time: 18:28 – 19:15
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: White
Age: under 18
Location: Stroud
Grounds: Officers have spotted a group of youths and could see them smoking something. Officers could smell cannabis coming from their direction.
Legislation: Sec.23: Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
Outcome: NFA Panel Decision: GREEN
129410
Date: June 2021
Time: 18:28 – 19:15
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: Not Stated
Age: over 18
Location: Stroud
Grounds: Officers have spotted a group of youths and could see them smoking something. Officers could smell cannabis coming from their direction.
Legislation: Sec.23: Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
Outcome: NFA Panel Decision: GREEN
129213
Date: May 2021
Time: 19:25 – 20:00
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: White
Age: over 18
Location: Berkeley
Grounds: An individual admitted that he had just been smoking cannabis. There were two joints of cannabis on the floor which the individual admitted to owning. Intelligence linked the individual to drug dealing in Berkeley.
Legislation: Sec.23: Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
Outcome: Arrested – found numerous items associated with the use and distribution of cannabis including a blue grinder, a set of scales and a black rucksack containing multiple bags. Panel Decision: GREEN
129229
Date: May 2021
Time: 15:45 – 15:50
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: White
Age: under 18
Location: Stonehouse
Grounds: RTC involving a car hitting a lamppost. 4 males ran from the scene but they were all detained and there was a strong smell of cannabis coming from the car. One male was in possession of an empty grinder.
Legislation: Sec.23: Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
Outcome: Arrested Panel Decision: GREEN
129230
Date: May 2021
Time: 13:05 – 13:05
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: White
Age: over 18
Location: Berkeley
Grounds: A male was acting in a disorderly manner and making fantastical claims. The male had spoken about the possession of drugs.
Legislation: Sec.23: Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
Outcome: NFA Panel Decision: GREEN
129237
Date: May 2021
Time: 19:34 – 19:43
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: White
Age: over 18
Location: Berkeley
Grounds: Officers saw a male getting out of a car who was known by police to have no insurance. There was also a strong smell of cannabis. As officers approached the other male, he dropped a joint and claimed it was not his.
Legislation: Sec.23: Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
Outcome: NFA – 2 joints and a grinder was seized
Panel Discussion: The panel asked if the officers were wearing BWV and PS White confirmed that they were. Panel Decision: GREEN
129257
Date: May 2021
Time: 17:05 – 17:15
Gender: Female
Ethnicity: White
Age: over 18
Location: Dursley
Grounds: There was intelligence that the vehicle and the driver’s boyfriend were involved with the supply of drugs. Before being stopped, the car was seen to go home, see police and carry on instead. This raised suspicion that there was enough time for the driver to pass the passenger any items. When stopped, the passenger was eager to get inside the address and not speak to the police.
Legislation: Sec.23: Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
Outcome: NFA
Panel Discussion: These grounds were very difficult to understand and caused some confusion amongst the panel. It seems that the passenger was stopped but the driver was not, which the panel questioned. What were the grounds to stop and search the woman if the marker was on the driver instead? Why was the car not stopped? A number of assumptions had to be made to understand this incident. The panel needed further information on the intelligence that led the car to be followed. Panel Decision: AMBER
The panel decided to change and look at Stop Searches related to Firearms.
129452
Date: June 2021
Time: 17:35 – 17:35
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: Asian
Age: over 18
Location: M5 motorway
Grounds: Information to suggest that the vehicle and occupants were involved in the sale of firearms.
Legislation: Sec.47: Firearms Act 1968
Outcome: NFA Panel Decision: GREEN
129393
Date: June 2021
Time: 17:35 – 17:35
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: Asian: Pakistani
Age: over 18
Location: M5 motorway
Grounds: The vehicle had a marker on PNC from West Midlands Police stating that it was being used for dealing and firearms were carried.
Legislation: Sec.47: Firearms Act 1968
Outcome: Other – cannabis seized
Panel Discussion: The panel asked how long the marker would stay on the vehicle. PS White confirmed that markers are regularly reviewed based on available intelligence. The panel also asked whether it is possible to check if a vehicle has a marker on before purchasing it. PS White said this is not possible but the marker is regularly reviewed. Panel Decision: GREEN
The panel asked if there was an update on the actions generated from the meeting in May.
Minutes from the 6th May:
129192
Date: May 2021
Time: 1100 – 1121
Sex: Female
Ethnicity: White
Age: over 18 Location: Michinhampton
Grounds: Vehicle registered out of force. Occupants recorded on PNC for a variety of offences. Stopped and detained on royal estate protected by police. Assisting the Metropolitan Police.
Legislation: Sec.43: Terrorism Act 2000
Outcome: NFA
Panel Decision: The panel asked for more information about why they were stopped. This incident is restricted so no further details could be obtained. Action: A/Insp. Shingler will ask to view the restricted incident and will report back. AMBER
A/Insp. Shingler informed the panel that incidents are restricted because there is one master incident that is logged every day for the royal houses. They then update the incident regularly throughout the day.
The panel stated that they still felt that they did not have enough information and would like to know about the ‘variety of offences’ leading to the stop. However, A/Insp. Shingler advised that this information may not be available as we recorded this stop search on behalf of the Met Police.
Action: Robin Agascar to send A/Insp. Shingler the names of the officers involved in the Stop Search.
Action: A/Insp. Shingler to gather more information on the incident to discuss at the next meeting.
Minutes from the 6th May:
129028
Date: April 2021
Time: 1226 – 1227
Sex: Male
Ethnicity: White
Age: under 18 Location: Gloucester
Grounds: Lone male seen walking around videoing a police building. When asked who he was, the male would not give a name or say why he was videoing police buildings.
Legislation: Sec.43: Terrorism Act 2000
Outcome: NFA
Panel Decision: The panel had differing views on the decision to S&S this male. Some members felt the reaction was too strong and that the male should be completely free to film on public property. Others believed it was fair to challenge and, as the male did not provide his details, move to a search. Action: A/Insp. Shingler to see if anymore information can be obtained about this S&S. AMBER
A/Insp. Shingler asked the officers involved for further information. They advised that the male was videoing a number of police buildings and when asked why, he would not engage with the officers. The officers described their thought process for selecting the above legislation. After the search, the male became more talkative and stated that he was filming for YouTube.
A panel member asked why the officer assumed this male was a terrorist. A/Insp. Shingler advised that the individual had considered which power was most appropriate. Further, A/Insp. Shingler informed the group that ultimately, this is no more serious than stopping an individual using any other legislation. This is a less intrusive method of dealing with a situation without the need to immediately arrest them.
A panel member questioned whether this was the appropriate response considering the age of the individual. However, others explained that this is a very vulnerable age and thus, age should not be considered a factor. The majority of the panel were happy with the response to this stop search.
The panel also asked whether progress had been made with regards to scrutinising the BWV for Stop Searches. A/Insp. Shingler advised that this is difficult online but asked the panel to select 2 from today’s meeting, which he will attempt to share with the panel members that have been vetted. The decision was made to review numbers 129257 and 129230.
Action: Annabel Staley to ask CI Pegler for an update on his actions from the previous meeting.