Sussex Police given enhanced stop and search powers

The force is one of four in the country to pilot the use of Serious Violence Reduction Orders (SVRO) in a bid police tackle knife crime.

SVROs were introduced through the controversial Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill in Parliament this month.

The orders mean Sussex Police will now have more power to stop and search adults who have previously been convicted of knife and offensive weapons offences.

File picture: Sussex Police given enhanced stop and search powers

They will only be issued to adult offenders – previously been convicted of knife and offensive weapons offences – and at the discretion of the court.

Detective Superintendent Stu Hale said: “Knives and other dangerous weapons have no place on our streets.

“We work tirelessly to remove them and to take action against those found to be carrying them, as part of our ongoing commitment to keeping our communities safe.

“By signing up to be a part of this pilot project, we are looking to build on the extensive work we already do in Sussex to tackle knife crime and serious violence.”

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill was passed amid widespread criticism that it could be used to clamp-down on legitimate protests.

The force says the use SVROs will help keep the community safe.

File picture: The force said the new powers will help keep our community safe

DS Hale added: “The powers granted within the order will help us identify and manage persistent offenders, which in turn should act as a powerful deterrent to others thinking of continually carrying a knife.

“If you persist in carrying weapons, you will be caught and dealt with robustly.

“Carrying weapons is extremely dangerous and although some people may carry them to feel safe, it actually puts you at more risk of coming to harm.”

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said: “Sussex Police are helping to lead the way in tackling serious violence and knife crime by taking part in this ground-breaking pilot.

“By targeting habitual knife carriers in an intelligence-led and consistent way officers will be sending out a clear message that this dangerous and reckless behaviour will not be tolerated.

“Following weeks of high profile success on our roads by the new Sussex Enforcement Units, the deployment of SVROs is another clear demonstration of Sussex Police cracking down on serious violence to make our streets even safer.”

Green MP Caroline Lucas previously warned the bill “will perpetuate the systemic racism that infects our criminal justice system” and said stop and search powers “sees black men targeted”.

The Argus reported in 2019 how black people were ten times more likely to be stopped and searched by Sussex Police.

According to figures, 3.5 white people in every 1,000 were stopped by Sussex Police in the year from March 31 2018 to the same date in 2019.

That is compared with 38 in every 1,000 black people.