, Labour’s Shadow Home
Secretary, responding to comments by
the Prime Minister about stop and search, said:
“Boris Johnson has effectively admitted that increased
random stop and search will be discriminatory but does not seem
to care that it is black people who are more likely to be
targeted and says he will go ahead and do it anyway. This is a
reckless disregard for civil rights, good community relations and
the evidence on stop and search.
“Targeted, intelligence-led interventions can work.
However, the evidence from multiple sources, including the Home
Office, is that random stop and search doesn’t work. We
should remember that the rise in violent crime followed ferocious
Tory cuts to policing, education, youth and mental health
services. The Tories simply can’t be trusted on these
issues.”
Ends
Note to editors:
· Comments
were made by the Prime Minister during a Facebook livestream
today (11.32mins):https://www.facebook.com/10downingstreet/videos/2422897891153638/
: “Given the backing
to do it, both legally and politically and I know it’s
controversial. People will say, you know, that certain groups get
picked on by the police and…it’s obviously black and minority
ethnic groups in particular and they’ll say it’s unfair. I have
to say you do need to do it. It has to be part of the mix. And
it’s… I think the most [inaudible] and kindest thing you can do
to a young person…”
