Suella Braverman gives police ‘full support’ to ramp up use of stop and search
Suella Braverman has encouraged police chiefs to use stop and search powers more often to “seize dangerous weapons and prevent more knife crime attacks”.
The home secretary’s letter to 43 chief constables does not have any direct impact on how officers act, as the police are operationally independent of government.
But the latest intervention shows the Home Office wants to see an increase in officers using the controversial powers.
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There has been criticism of the practice of stop and search, especially over the proportion of black men and boys – with one research paper describing it as a “rite of passage” for black boys.
Government statistics suggest black people are seven times more like to be stopped and searched compared with white people.
And campaign groups have previously warned that relaxing restrictions on police use of the power could compound discrimination.
‘First priority must be on prevention and public safety’
But Ms Braverman is “giving her full backing” to the policing method – with the Home Office highlighting in the 12 months to March 2022, 99 young people died due to knife crime, and 31 of those victims were black.
A Home Office spokesman says this shows “black males are, therefore, disproportionately more likely to be killed by violence and knife crime”.
“Though the government recognises black males are more likely to be stopped and searched, our first priority must be on prevention and public safety.”
Almost 50,000 weapons have been seized during stop and searches since 2019 according to the Home Office, leading to more than 220,000 arrests.
Ms Braverman also wants officers to “arrest and investigate” in instances where someone “unlawfully” obstructs officers stopping and searching a person.
The home secretary is also calling for the body worn camera footage recorded by constables to be released faster as she hopes “by telling the whole story quickly, innocent police officers will not be subject to trial by social media over their actions”.
Ms Braverman said: “Carrying weapons is a scourge on our society. And anyone doing so is risking their own lives as well as the lives of those around them. This dangerous culture must be brought to a stop.
“My first priority is to keep the public safe and people who insist on carrying a weapon must know that there will be consequences.”
There have been concerns about the proportion of black men and boys who have been stopped and searched
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She added: “The police have my full support to ramp up the use of stop and search, wherever necessary, to prevent violence and save more lives.
“Every death from knife crime is a tragedy. That’s why I also back the police in tackling this blight in communities which are disproportionately affected, such as among young black males. We need to do everything in our power to crack down on this violence.”
The home secretary also updated the safeguards being put in place when it comes to stop and search to “strengthen trust between the police and local communities”.
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The government therefore says it intends to make it a legal requirement for police to “communicate” when they are putting Section 60 orders in place, which make it easier to stop and search in specific areas, with exceptions if it would “hinder a sensitive situation to do so”.
And data on every interaction must be collected, passed to the Home Office, and published.
Braverman ‘chasing headlines’, says Labour
Labour’s shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper accused the home secretary of “chasing headlines” instead of tackling knife crime.
“Knife crime has shot up after 13 years of the Tories, with the biggest increases in the suburbs and counties, destroying lives and devastating families,” she said.
“Yet instead of a serious government plan to get knife crime back down, the home secretary is just writing the police more letters and chasing headlines.
“The decimation of neighbourhood policing, cuts to youth prevention work, lack of a proper serious violence strategy and lack of action on organised crime under the Tories has allowed knife crime to go up across all communities.”
UK
Tulip Siddiq: Labour MP accuses Bangladesh’s leader of ‘orchestrated campaign’ to damage her reputation
Former minister Tulip Siddiq has accused the leader of Bangladesh of conducting an “orchestrated campaign” to damage her reputation and “interfere with UK politics”, according to a new legal letter seen by Sky News.
The Labour MP also said comments made by Professor Muhammad Yunus in a Sky News interview have prejudiced her right to a fair investigation, meaning the ongoing corruption inquiries into her should be dropped.
In March, the chief adviser – who is effectively the country’s interim leader – told Sky News that Ms Siddiq “has so many (sic) wealth left behind here” and “should be made responsible”.
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Bangladesh’s leader talks to Sky News
Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has opened several investigations into Ms Siddiq alleging corruption in connection with the government of her aunt Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted as the country’s prime minister last year.
In the new correspondence sent today to Professor Yunus and the ACC, lawyers for the former minister write: “The time has now come for the chief adviser and the ACC to abandon their wholly misconceived and unlawful campaign to smear Ms Siddiq’s reputation and interfere with her public service.”
Sky News has approached the chief adviser and the ACC for comment.
The Bangladeshi authorities have previously said they have evidence to back up their claims of corruption and will pursue action through the country’s courts.
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Speaking to Sky News on Monday, Ms Siddiq said: “I will not be allowing them to drag me into their world of dirty politics and nothing is going to stop me from pursuing the job that I was elected to do with an overwhelming majority, which is representing the people of Hampstead and Highgate.
“So they need to stop this political vendetta, this smear campaign, and this malicious persecution right from the beginning.”
The MP had requested a meeting with the Bangladeshi leader during an official visit to the UK earlier this month to “clear up” any misunderstandings.
But this was turned down by the chief adviser, who said he did not want to “interrupt a legal procedure”.
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In the new legal letter, lawyers for Ms Siddiq say the interim leader had already unfairly influenced the inquiries through previous comments.
“The copious briefings to the media, the failure to respond to our letters, the failure to even ask to meet with and question Ms Siddiq during their recent visit to the United Kingdom are impossible to justify and completely inconsistent with a fair, lawful and serious investigation,” reads the letter.
The correspondence also sets a deadline of 30 June 2025 for the Bangladeshi authorities to reply by, stating that “in the absence of a full and proper response… Ms Siddiq will consider this matter closed”.
A former Nobel Prize winning economist, Professor Muhammad Yunus became interim leader of Bangladesh last August after weeks of deadly protests forced Sheikh Hasina from power.
He has pledged to root out corruption and recover alleged stolen wealth before holding votes to elect a permanent administration.
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Tulip Siddiq questioned over Bangladesh corruption
Last month, Professor Yunus banned the Awami League – the political party still led by Sheikh Hasina – from standing in the coming elections.
That led to criticism from those still loyal to the former prime minister, with protests also sparking in the country over jobs, pay and planned reforms.
Earlier this year, it was revealed that Tulip Siddiq had lived in several London properties that had links back to the Awami League.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s standards adviser Sir Laurie Magnus who said he had “not identified evidence of improprieties” but added it was “regrettable” Ms Siddiq had not been more alert to the “potential reputational risks” of the ties to her aunt.
Ms Siddiq said continuing in her role would be “a distraction” for the government but insisted she had done nothing wrong.
Sheikh Hasina is currently standing trial in absentia in Dhaka over alleged killings during last summer’s civil unrest.
Asked by Sky News if she had any regrets about links to the Awami league, Ms Siddiq said: “The main thing I would say to you, I’m very proud to be the MP for Hampstead and Highgate. I was born in London, I grew up in London. I went to school here and now I’m an MP here.”
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Sheikh Hasina pictured in 2023. Pic: AP/Yomiuri Shimbun
In March, Sky News revealed that UK investigators could assist with probes into alleged grand corruption during Hasina’s time in power.
Staff from the National Crime Agency visited Bangladesh in October and November as part of initial work to support the interim government in the country.
Last month, the NCA confirmed it had secured a “freezing order” against a property in north London linked to Ms Siddiq’s family.
She denies all the allegations – and sources close to the MP say the authorities have been sending correspondence to an address in Dhaka that has no connection with her.
A “rapid” national investigation into NHS maternity services has been launched by the government.
The announcement comes after Health Secretary Wes Streeting met families who have lost babies and amid the ongoing investigations at some NHS trusts into maternity care failings.
The investigation in England is intended to provide truth to families suffering harm, as well as driving urgent improvements to care and safety, as part of efforts to ensure “no parent or baby is ever let down again”.
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The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) welcomed the government’s announcement and said maternity services were “at, or even beyond, breaking point”.
Last week, the NHS regulator said maternity and neonatal services at two Leeds hospitals had been rated inadequate over safety issues.
Mr Streeting, who was speaking at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) conference in London, apologised on behalf of the NHS for what families had been through and said it was “clear something is going wrong”.
He added: “For the past year, I have been meeting bereaved families from across the country who have lost babies or suffered serious harm during what should have been the most joyful time in their lives.
“What they have experienced is devastating – deeply painful stories of trauma, loss, and a lack of basic compassion – caused by failures in NHS maternity care that should never have happened.
“Their bravery in speaking out has made it clear: we must act – and we must act now.”
Mr Streeting said families have had to “fight for truth and justice” and had described being “ignored, gaslit, lied to, manipulated and damaged further by the inability for a trust to simply be honest with them that something has gone wrong”.
The investigation will consist of two parts.
Wes Streeting speaking during the RCOG conference. Pic: PA
The first will investigate up to 10 of the most concerning maternity and neonatal units, including Sussex, in the coming weeks to give affected families answers as quickly as possible, according to the Department of Health.
The second will be a “system-wide” look at maternity and neonatal care, uniting lessons from past inquiries to create one clear set of actions designed to improve NHS care.
A National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce will be chaired by Mr Streeting and made up of experts and bereaved families.
The investigation will begin this summer and report back by December.
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Sir Jim Mackey, chief executive of NHS England, said: “This rapid national investigation must mark a line in the sand for maternity care – setting out one set of clear actions for NHS leaders to ensure high quality care for all.”
Dr Ranee Thakar, president of the RCOG, said: “The maternity workforce is on its knees, with many now leaving the profession.”
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RCM chief executive Gill Walton said: “Everyone involved in maternity services – the midwifery community, obstetricians, anaesthetists, sonographers and, of course, the women and families in their care – knows that maternity services are at, or even beyond, breaking point.
“This renewed focus and commitment by the health secretary to deliver change is welcome, and we will do everything we can to support him in doing so.”
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