‘Stop-and-searches’ on children rise 2,500% in five years

Monday 14 June 2021

The number of children stopped and searched in a single year has jumped from 10 to 257 in just five years - a rise of nearly 2,500% on five years ago, as Police aim to clamp down on youth crime.

‘Stop-and-search’ is the policing practice of stopping a person briefly to check for weapons, drugs or other prohibited items.

In 2016, just 10 children in Jersey underwent a stop-and-search. 

That rose to 28 in 2017 and 35 in 2018 before roughly tripling in 2019 to 106.

Despite islanders having been locked down for a significant portion of 2020, that figure more than doubled to 257.

The figures emerged following a written question to the Home Affairs Department by Deputy Mike Higgins. 

370 (85%) of the 436 children stopped and searched over the past five years were aged 16 to 18. The remainder, just 66, were between 10 and 15. 

Overall, 14% of those stopped were girls and 86% were boys.

Asked why there had been such a dramatic rise in stop-and-search incidents among young people in recent years by Express, Chief Inspector Chris Beechey responded: “The figures for stop and search relate to police powers and activity for both stolen and prohibited items however, also controlled drugs.

“There has been a well-documented focus on the actions of some young people over the last couple of years, actions that have resulted in a number of police operations and the associated use of stop and search powers.

“All of this recent work and focus has contributed to this increase.”

The increase coincides with a jump in the number of children being arrested - numbers doubled to 282 last year.

Those numbers led Children's Commissioner Deborah McMillan to call for a youth justice rethink.

She told Express at the time that she was compiling a ‘Diversion Report', which would look into alternative methods of diverting and preventing young people from crime, arguing that, for some of the island’s children in vulnerable situations, the current system isn't working. 

Express contacted Ms McMillan last week about the stop-and-search figures, but she declined to comment until the outcome of her review of the youth justice system.

Pictured: The Children's Commissioner Deborah McMillan has previously called for a rethink of the youth justice system, but declined to comment on the latest stop-and-search figures.

As part of the response to Deputy Higgins, it was explained that the decision as to whether or not an incident is recorded using a body-worn camera lies with individual police officers.

“The camera must be switched on when footage might support professional observation or would corroborate what would be written in a pocket notebook… The user should be mindful that the failure to record any incident of evidential value may require explanation in court,” the response read. 

The law says that powers of stop-and-search must be used "fairly, responsibly, with respect for people being searched and without discrimination" in Jersey.

It adds: "The primary purpose of stop and search powers is to enable officers to allay or confirm suspicions about individuals without exercising their power of arrest. Officers may be required to justify the use or authorisation of such powers, in relation both to individual searches and the overall pattern of their activity in this regard, to their supervisory officers or in court.

"Any misuse of the powers is likely to be harmful to policing and lead to mistrust of the police. Officers must also be able to explain their actions to the member of the public searched. The misuse of these powers can lead to disciplinary action."

The topic of youth crime has generated much local discussion recently, following the early-hours break-in to St. Brelade restaurant Off The Rails, which saw a number of masked intruders steal iPads, tills and professional kitchen knives.

In April, Police also reported that three young males had attempted to steal a handbag from a woman, while, earlier this month, officers said a man was left needing A&E treatment after being attacked by seven teenagers, who also stole his phone, wallet and cigarettes.