London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Mar 14, 2026

Black Londoners three times more likely to be stopped than white

Black Londoners three times more likely to be stopped than white

Black Londoners are still three times more likely to be stopped and searched than white Londoners, latest figures from the London mayor's office show.

It comes as new measures have been launched in response to community concerns about policing.

Both City Hall and the Met Police will oversee delivery of the plans.

They include setting up a panel to inform and oversee safer schools officers, and collecting data on the lived experience of black Londoners.

Research from body-worn camera footage will also be published to help improve the police's understanding of the points of escalation and de-escalation in stop and search interactions.

The new data on stop and search activity in London, from the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), shows black Londoners of all ages remained three times more likely overall to be stopped than white Londoners between April and June 2022.

When those stop and searches were for weapons, points or blades, black Londoners of all ages were seven times more likely overall to be stopped than white Londoners.

This is an increase compared to the previous period, between January and March, when black Londoners were five times as likely compared to white Londoners.

Less than half of black Londoners, 44%, said they thought stop and search powers were used fairly by the police, and roughly 61% of black Londoners said they trusted the police, compared to 76% of white Londoners.

The mayor, Sadiq Khan, said the new measures responded to concerns and built on the Action Plan created in 2020 in consultation with more than 400 individuals and groups that work with black communities.


The measures include sharing research findings about stop and search practices, using body-worn camera footage

The latest proposals include establishing a safer school "partnership panel" of community representatives, headteachers, youth justice services and the Met to oversee and inform the work of the scheme.

The mayor's office said it followed concerns from residents that black children were being targeted as a result of the scheme.


'Let black Londoners down'


Regular surveys will measure public reaction to the scheme, broken down by ethnicity, to help identify issues.

Additionally, the social action organisation Black Thrive Global and app developers PSi will gather information on black residents' lived experiences and interactions with police officers.

Both Mr Khan and Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley are meeting representatives from City Hall later, alongside deputy mayor of policing and crime Sophie Linden, to discuss the plans.

Sadiq Khan says the plans are aimed at "listening to and acting on the concerns and experiences of black Londoners"


The mayor said while the existing Action Plan was "already working to improve trust and confidence in the Met and to address community concerns", City Hall and the police force needed "to do more".

He continued: "That's why today with the commissioner I've announced a raft of new actions based on those concerns, that cover everything from police tactics and recruitment to community oversight and engagement, so we can build a better, safer and fairer London for everyone."

Met Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: "I have been candid in saying that I know the Met has let people down - especially black Londoners.

"Under my leadership, I am determined to root out those who corrupt our integrity and rebuild community confidence in policing once more so we can work with black communities to reduce the disproportionate crime they experience."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Middle East War Highlights Strategic Importance of Strong UK–Ireland Cooperation
Weak Growth Signals UK Economy Was Faltering Even Before Middle East Energy Shock
Marks & Spencer Tops UK Fashion Retail Rankings as Most Considered Brand
United States Launches Trade Investigation Into Allies Over Forced Labour Practices
United States Launches Trade Investigation Into Allies Over Forced Labour Practices
Russia Accuses Britain Over Storm Shadow Strike as London Reaffirms Ukraine’s Right to Self-Defence
Russia Accuses Britain Over Storm Shadow Strike as London Reaffirms Ukraine’s Right to Self-Defence
Royal Navy to Acquire Twenty Uncrewed Surface Vessels for Autonomous Warfare Testing
Russia Summons British and French Envoys After Ukrainian Storm Shadow Strike on Strategic Facility
Starmer Confirms Britain Will Maintain Sanctions on Russia Despite U.S. Policy Shift
UK Moves to Refine AI Definition in Investment Security Reform
UK Economy Stalls in January as Growth Unexpectedly Falls to Zero
Asian Energy Security Tested as Strait of Hormuz Disruption Threatens Oil Supplies
Iran Sets Three Conditions for Ending Regional War as Diplomatic Efforts Intensify
Tesla Secures Approval to Supply Electricity Directly to Homes Across Britain
Prince William Delivers Tribute to Australia’s Naval Alliance Amid Renewed Royal Spotlight on the Country
UK Foreign Secretary Travels to Saudi Arabia to Reinforce Support for Regional Allies
Putin’s ‘Hidden Hand’ May Be Assisting Iran in Conflict With Trump, UK Defence Secretary Warns
UK Sets April Deadline for Tech Platforms to Strengthen Online Protections for Children
Elon Musk Moves Into Britain’s Energy Market as Tesla Wins Licence to Supply Power
UK Watchdog Warns Fuel Retailers Against Profiteering Amid Iran War Price Surge
Report Claims Iran Used UK Charity Network to Expand Influence
United States and United Kingdom Establish Joint Standards for Counter-Drone Technology
Iran May Be Laying Naval Mines in Strait of Hormuz, UK Warns Amid Escalating Gulf Tensions
US Deploys Bunker-Buster Bombs to UK Airbase as Iran Conflict Intensifies
British Troops in Iraq Intercept Iranian Drones Targeting Coalition Base
Release of Mandelson Files Raises Tensions as UK Seeks Stable Relations With Donald Trump
UK Documents Reveal Starmer Was Warned About Mandelson’s Epstein Links Before Ambassador Appointment
Nearly Five Hundred UK Mortgage Deals Withdrawn in Two Days as Market Volatility Forces Lenders to Reprice
Three Cargo Ships Hit Near Iran as Attacks Spread to Strategic Strait of Hormuz
Why British Police Repeatedly Declined to Investigate Jeffrey Epstein’s UK Links
UK Parliament Ends Hereditary Seats in House of Lords, Closing Chapter on Centuries of Aristocratic Lawmaking
EU and UK Urge Israel to Act Against Rising West Bank Settler Violence Amid Regional Tensions
US Senator John Kennedy Says Keir Starmer Should Not Be Trusted for Military Advice Amid Iran War Debate
UK High Court Rejects Attempt to Revive Terrorism Charge Against Kneecap Rapper
Revolut Secures Full UK Banking Licence After Multi-Year Regulatory Wait
Kentucky’s Bench Boost Powers Wildcats Past LSU in SEC Tournament Opener
British Couple Die After Being Pulled From Water at Australian Beach During Family Visit
Global Energy Agency Announces Record Release of 400 Million Barrels to Stabilize Oil Markets Amid Hormuz Disruption
British Airways Suspends UK Repatriation Flights as Middle East Travel Disruption Deepens
US Forces Prepare Ordnance at RAF Fairford as Strategic Bombers Deploy for Middle East Operations
Nigel Farage Faces Criticism After Saying Britain Should Stay Out of Iran War
Landmark UK Trial Begins Over Sony’s PlayStation Store Pricing
UK High Court Rejects Bid to Challenge Britain’s Chagos Islands Agreement With Mauritius
Finnish Duo Triumphs in England’s Annual Wife-Carrying Race, Winning a Barrel of Ale
How U.S. and UK National Security Strategies Are Reshaping the Global Business Landscape
Green Party Gains Momentum as Labour Shifts Toward the Political Centre
Royal Navy Destroyer HMS Dragon Sets Sail for Eastern Mediterranean as Regional Tensions Rise
UK Homebuilder Persimmon Warns Iran Conflict Could Dent Property Buyer Confidence
Roman Abramovich Signals Legal Fight if UK Seeks to Seize Chelsea Sale Funds
×