Stop Search data Q4 2023-24
Key findings
For the 4th fiscal quarter of 2023-2024 (January - March 2024):
Wiltshire Police have recorded 398 stop and searches
The highest proportion of stop and searches were conducted within the Swindon Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) area, contributing to 64.8% (258) of the total. This is followed by Salisbury NPT which contributed 7.8% (31) to the total
Of the total volume of stop and searches, 55.5% (221) involved the search for a controlled drug
17.3% (69) of the total stop searches resulted in an arrest. 7.0% (28) completed voluntary attendance interview and 6.3% (25) had a community resolution e.g. target intervention, rehabilitative and diversionary activities etc.
Of the total volume of stop and searches, 70.9% (280) of cases resulted in no object being found and 29.1% (115) resulted in an object being found. Of the searches resulting in an object found, 81.7% (94) were objects related to the reason for the stop and search
51.6% (202) of those people stopped were under the age of 25
Of the 398 stop and searches recorded, 9.0% (36) were conducted between the hours of 10pm and 11pm
Stop and searches by NPT location
Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) |
Percentage of stop searches |
| Swindon NPT | 64.8% |
| Trowbridge NPT | 5.0% |
| Salisbury NPT | 7.8% |
| Warminster NPT | 4.3% |
| Amesbury NPT | 1.8% |
| Chippenham NPT | 4.0% |
| Devizes NPT | 5.3% |
| Royal Wootton Bassett NPT | 3.3% |
| No recorded location | 3.8% |
The above table gives a visual representation of the volume of stop and searches recorded across the Wiltshire Police force area. The table shows that Swindon NPT recorded the largest proportion of stop and searches, followed by Salisbury NPT.
Swindon NPT
Of the stop and searches in the Swindon NPT area, 59.7% (154) were related to controlled drugs. In 25.7% (n.39) of these cases, the object searched for was found and 13.6% (21) of these resulted in an arrest.
Salisbury NPT
In the Salisbury area, 67.7% (21) of stop and searches were related to controlled drugs. In 33.3% (7) of these cases, the object searched for was found and 33.3% (7) of these resulted in an arrest.
Please note, 3.8% (15) of all searches were either conducted out of Wiltshire or do not have a location stated.
|
Reason |
Number |
Percentage of total |
| Controlled Drugs | 221 | 55.5% |
| Offensive weapon | 109 | 27.4% |
| Stolen property | 40 | 10.1% |
| Criminal damage | 6 | 1.5% |
| Going Equipped | 12 | 3.0% |
| Other | 9 | 2.3% |
| Firearms | 1 | 0.3% |
For each recorded stop and search, there is the option to have multiple reasons for why the Stop Search was conducted. This results in a larger volume of recorded search reasons compared to the total volume of Stop and Searches.
As part of a stop and search, we must define whether any object was found as part of that search.
| Object found | 280 |
| Nothing found | 115 |
23.8% (94) related to the intended object that was being searched for, meaning that 5.3% (21) of searches found an object not of the original search.
|
Police action taken |
Number |
Percentage |
| Object found - No further action | 23 | 5.8% |
| Nothing found - No further action | 241 | 60.6% |
| Police action taken | 129 | 32.4% |
| Outcome not stated | 5 | 1.3% |
It should be noted that one stop and search can have multiple outcomes.
Age range |
% of stop and searches |
| 10-17 | 23.0% (90) |
| 18-24 | 28.6% (112) |
| 25-34 | 23.3% (91) |
| 35-59 | 21.7% (85) |
| 60+ | 0.3% (1) |
| Not stated | 3.1% (12) |
Of the 398 stop and searches recorded, 51.6% (n.202) were to stop a person under the age of 25.
9.0% (36) of the 398 stop and searches in this period were conducted between the hours of 10pm and 11pm.
Gender |
Percentage of stop searches |
| Male | 85.4% |
| Female | 14.6% |
When looking at the breakdown of genders, males feature as the most predominant gender, stop and searches for males was 85.4% (334).
The proportion of females stopped was 14.6% (57).
Type of search |
Percentage of stop searches |
| No clothes removed | 59.5% (237) |
| Outer clothes removed only | 37.4% (149) |
| Full strip | 1.3% (5) |
76.9% (306) of 398 stop and searches recorded during this fiscal quarter were recorded as a search of person only.
5 of the stop and searches (1.3%) cases were a full strip search, which results in the exposure of intimate body parts. (4 identified as male & 1 as female). All strip searches are conducted at a police station whilst following the relevant rules and regulations. 20.0% (1) of these stop and searches resulted in an intended object of search being 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 | 0.8% (3) |
| Asian | 4.6% (18) |
| Black | 6.1% (24) |
| Mixed | 4.3% (17) |
| White | 61.1% (239) |
| Not stated | 23.0% (90) |
During this fiscal quarter, individuals belonging to an ethnic minority group were 2.40 times more likely to be stopped than those of a white ethnicity.
| Ethnicity | Times more likely |
| Asian | 1.30 |
| Black | 5.78 |
| Mixed | 3.08 |
| Arab or Other | 1.18 |
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.