Stop and search figures
01 January 1994
The number of people stopped and searched by the police in England and Wales in 1992 was 351,700 (up from 303,800 in 1991), a rise of 16% Of these 48,700 were arrested for an offence, 14% of those stopped. This means 303,000 people were stopped and questioned under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) and not arrested.
No figures are given for those who were arrested but not subsequently charged or those charged but not convicted. These figures, like those in previous years, do not show the higher numbers of people who are stopped and questioned but not searched as these stops do not have to be recorded by the police.
These stop and searches by the police are undertaken on the grounds of suspected stolen property, drugs, firearms, offensive weapons and other offences.
No. of stop and searches: Arrests
1986 109,800 18,900
1987 118,300 19,600
1988 149,600 23,700
1989 202,800 32,800
1990 256,900 39,200
1991 303,800 46,200
1992 351,700 48,700
The largest number of stops and searches were, as in previous years, in the London Metropolitan Police District (the Met) where 191,819 people were stopped in 1992 (172,401 in 1991; 150,252 in 1990). With just over 20% of the overall police strength in England and Wales the Met carried out 55% of all stops and made 49% of all arrests under this power.
The number of roadblocks set up in 1992 rose from 222 to 445 largely due to over 200 being conducted in the City of London following increased terrorist activity. The number of vehicles stopped was 31,500 (down 300). The number of subsequent arrests in connection with the reasons for setting up the roadblock was 29 (down 10) and arrests for unconnected reasons was 83 (up 34).
The number of people held for questioning in police custody for more than 24 hours without charge in 1992 was 402 (up for the first time six years). There were 230 people held for more than 36 hours of whom 186 were subsequently charged. The number of intimate body searches was 71 with drugs or "other harmful items" being found in only 11 instances.
Operation of certain police powers under PACE 1992 Home Office Statistical Bulletin July 1993 (see Statewatch vol 1 no 4 for 1991; Statewatch vol 2 no 5 for 1992).