Stop Search data Q2 2023-24
Key findings
For the 2nd fiscal quarter of 2023-2024 (July-September 2023):
Wiltshire Police have recorded 437 stop and searches.
The highest proportion of stop and searches were conducted within the Swindon Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) area, contributing to 55.8% (244) of the total. This is followed by Trowbridge NPT which contributed 11.4% (50) to the total.
Of the total volume of stop and searches, 59.3% (259) involved the search for a controlled drug.
14.4% (63) of the total stop and searches resulted in an arrest. 6.6% (29) completed voluntary attendance interview and 7.1% (31) had a community resolution e.g. target intervention, rehabilitative and diversionary activities etc.
Of the total volume of stop and searches, 70.5% (306) of cases resulted in no object being found and 29.3% (128) resulted in an object being found. Of the searches resulting in an object found, 82.0% (105) were objects related to the reason for the stop and search.
54.8% (233) of those people stopped were under the age of 25.
Of the 437 stop and searches recorded, 10.1% (44) were conducted between the hours of 9pm and 10pm.
Stop and searches by NPT location
Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) |
Percentage of stop searches |
| Swindon NPT | 55.8% |
| Trowbridge NPT | 11.4% |
| Chippenham NPT | 10.5% |
| Salisbury NPT | 5.7% |
| Royal Wotton Bassett NPT | 4.1% |
| Warminster NPT | 3.7% |
| Devizes NPT | 3.0% |
| Amesbury NPT | 1.6% |
| No recorded location | 4.1% |
The above table shows the volume of stop and searches recorded across Wiltshire's police force area. The table shows that Swindon NPT has recorded the largest proportion of stop and searches, followed by, Trowbridge NPT, and Chippenham NPT.
Swindon NPT
Of the stop and searches in this area, 60.7% (148) were related to controlled drugs in 21.9% (32) of these cases, the object searched for was found and 9.5% (14) of these resulted in an arrest.
Trowbridge NPT
In the Trowbridge area, 54.0% (27) of stop and searches were related to controlled drugs. In 37.0% (10) of these cases, the object searched for was found and 22.2% (6) of these resulted in an arrest.
Please note, 4.1 % (18) of all searches were either conducted out of Wiltshire or do not have a location stated.
|
Reason |
Number |
Percentage of total |
| Controlled Drugs | 259 | 59.3% |
| Offensive weapon | 91 | 20.8% |
| Stolen property | 43 | 9.8% |
| Criminal damage | 6 | 1.4% |
| Going Equipped | 17 | 3.9% |
| Firearms | 9 | 2.1% |
| Other | 12 | 2.7% |
For each recorded stop and search, there is the option to have multiple reasons for why the stop and search was conducted. This results in a larger volume of recorded search reasons compared to the total volume of stop and search
As part of a stop and search, we must define whether any object was found as part of that search.
| Object found | 128 |
| Nothing found | 306 |
24.2% (105) related to the intended object that was being searched for, meaning that 5.1% (23) of searches found an object not of the original search.
|
Police action taken |
Number |
Percentage |
| Object found- no further action | 23 | 5.3% |
| Nothing found-no further action | 269 | 61.6% |
| Police action taken | 142 | 32.5% |
| Outcome not stated | 2 | 0.5% |
It should be noted that one stop and search can have multiple outcomes.
Age range |
% of stop and searches |
| 10-17 | 29.2% (124) |
| 18-24 | 25.6% (109) |
| 25-34 | 25.6% (109) |
| 35-59 | 16.2% (69) |
| 60+ | 0.7% (3) |
| Not stated | 2.6% (11) |
Of the 437 stop and searches recorded, 54.8% (233) were to stop a person under the age of 25.
10.1% (44) of the 437 stop and searches in this period were conducted between the hours of 9pm and 10pm.
Gender |
Percentage of stop searches |
| Male | 82.6% (351) |
| Female | 16.7% (71) |
| Unknown | 0.7% (3) |
When looking at the breakdown of genders, males feature as the most predominant gender - stop and searches for males was 82.6% (351).
The proportion of females stopped was 16.7% (71), with the remaining 0.7% (3) unknown or not recorded.
Type of search |
Percentage of stop searches |
| No clothes removed |
73.5% (321) |
| Outer clothes removed only | 18.1% (79) |
| Full strip | 5.0% (22) |
78.0% (341) of 437 stop and searches recorded during this fiscal quarter were recorded as a search of person only.
22 of stop and searches (5.0%) cases were a full strip search, which resulted in the exposure of intimate body parts. (14 identified as male, 7 as female & 1 unknown). All strip searches are conducted at a police station whilst following the relevant rules and regulations. 38.1% (8) of these stop and searches resulted in an object being found, of which 23.8% (5) the intended object of search was found.
Note: Disproportionality data uses Self Defined Ethnicity if stated.
Disproportionality refers to a situation in which racial or ethnic groups are represented at a higher proportion than other racial or ethnic groups. It looks at the relative ratios of those people stop and searched as a proportion of the resident population in the specified area.
Wiltshire population data is based on the 2021 Census.
| Number of stops by the subject’s self-defined ethnicity. | |
| Arab or other | 1.2% (5) |
| Asian | 1.6% (7) |
| Black | 4.0% (17) |
| Mixed | 4.2% (18) |
| White | 64.9% (276) |
| Not stated | 24.0% (102) |
During this fiscal quarter, individuals belonging to an ethnic minority group were 1.59 times more likely to be stopped than those of a white ethnicity.
When compared with individuals of a White ethnicity the likelihood of being stopped is broken down in the table below.
| Ethnicity | Times more likely |
| Asian | 0.50 |
| Black | 3.42 |
| Mixed | 2.84 |
| Arab or Other | 1.71 |
We are required by home office rules to report disproportionality using figures based on per 1,000 population.
Wiltshire Police have carried out a comprehensive analysis of this data. We have examined the number of searches conducted when compared against the ethnicity of the subject. When we analyse the number of searches conducted by ethnicity of the subject, we observe that the numbers are low. Because of this, small changes in the numbers searched can influence how this data is presented.
The issue of disproportionality within stop and search is key area of focus and scrutiny within Wiltshire Police. We are committed to ensuring that our stop and search practices are fair and transparent. We have a team who regularly review the statistics to identify any issues that may require our specific and targeted action. We remain dedicated to addressing any concerns promptly and effectively.