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02
Mar 2023
Police set to increase use of stop and search in Harrogate district
A senior police officer has said he expects to see an increase in the use of stop and search in the Harrogate district.
Police have the power to stop and search people if they have ‘reasonable grounds’ to suspect they're carrying illegal drugs, a weapon or stolen property or something that could be used to commit a crime.
In special circumstances, people can be stopped and searched without these 'reasonable grounds'.
Civil liberties groups have raised concerns the technique is open to abuse, especially at legitimate protests.
At Harrogate Borough Council‘s overview and scrutiny commission this week, Cllr John Mann, a Conservative who represents Pannal asked Rich Ogden, chief inspector at North Yorkshire Police if the force used stop and search to discourage people carrying knives.
Ch Insp Ogden said stop and search "is a really effective operational tool", adding.
Ch Insp Ogden said local police team meetings regularly reviewed whether the technique was used appropriately and correctly.
He said:
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