I took part in a Westminster Hall debate on the use of stop and search powers. As the government looks set to create new policing powers, I argued it is important to scrutinise the use of existing powers. I highlighted ongoing disproportionalities around the use of stop and search, which mean Black people are over four times more likely to be stopped and searched than their White counterparts.

I raised my continuing concern that the overuse of suspicionless stop and search powers is counterproductive. Searching people without evidence undoubtedly alienates those who are searched despite having done nothing wrong and undermines trust in policing among the public as a whole. Rather than helping the police to do their jobs and keep us safe, this undermines their ability to do so.