Colchester police boss addresses fall in stop and searches

The number of stop and searches conducted by Essex Police in Colchester peaked at 5,187 in 2020, which was the highest rate in Essex.

That number halved the following year and has continued to fall in the years since, and sits at 1,614 for 2023.

But Colchester district commander, chief inspector Colin Cox, has said more cases are being solved by metal detectors and employing specialist officers without compromising the trust of the public.

Reduction – Chief Insp Colin Cox said the fall in anti-social behaviour shows the move away from stop and search powers is working (Image: Newsquest)

Chief Insp Cox said: “Essex Police has a clear vision for stop and search – to gain the trust and confidence of the community in its use as a tactic for keeping everyone safe.

“It is vital for combating crime, disrupting offenders, gathering intelligence and avoiding the unnecessary detention of individuals.

“We work closely with Colchester City Council and other partners in the district to make sure our use of this power is targeted and proportional, working as a deterrent to prevent criminality.

“It is a power used by officers to stop and search members of the public who are suspected to be carrying stolen or prohibited articles or offensive weapons.”

He continued by saying anti-social behaviour was falling and that officers were also carrying out work in the community to educate young people about the dangers of knife crime.

He said: “We’re seeing anti-social behaviour fall in Colchester.

There’s been a 29 per cent reduction – that’s 687 fewer offences over the 12 months to February 2024.

Invasive – some have argued stop and searches are invasive and target ethnic minorities (Image: Newsquest)

“In addition to using stop and search as a crime prevention power, we also carry out community work to educate young people on the risks and consequences of carrying offensive weapons like knives.

“We also have dedicated operations that are producing more solved cases involving offensive weapons, using tools like metal detectors to scan people out enjoying Colchester’s nightlife, and specialist officers who are trained to detect weapons being carried out.”

Whilst there were 30 fewer stop and searches in Colchester between 2022 and 2023, they fell at a greater rate in neighbouring Tendring, from 1,208 to 1,008.