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

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.

Stop and search is a vital tactic in combating crime, disrupting offenders, gathering intelligence and avoiding the unnecessary detention of individuals.

Around one in 10 of Essex Police stop and searches result in an arrest. We have a duty to exercise our power with consideration, being careful not to undermine public trust and confidence.

Downloads

Performance reports

Updated monthly on a rolling year basis (April onwards). This document details the number of stop and searches completed, offences suspected, outcomes and ethnicity comparisons.

Stop and search - Scrutiny (complaints and outcomes) reports

Scrutiny reports will be updated quarterly. These reports look at the three fundamental areas of scrutiny and public satisfaction relating to stop and search in Essex, complaints made in relation to stop search, results and feedback from lay observation and ride-along opportunities and public survey information.