Police Stop and Search - Avon and Somerset Constabulary

A map of stop and search data collected by Avon and Somerset Constabulary between July 2023 and June 2024.

Data source: Data Police UK

Prevalence of Drug-Related Searches: The most common reason for stop and search operations was the suspicion of controlled drugs. This accounted for over 50% of all searches, suggesting a significant focus on drug-related crimes.

Disproportionate Impact on Males: A substantial majority of the individuals stopped were male, with 87% of the searches involving males. This highlights a gender disparity in the application of stop and search measures.

Age Group Targeting: Individuals over the age of 34 were the most frequently searched age group, representing a significant portion of the total stops. This could indicate that older individuals are more likely to be targeted or are involved in activities prompting searches.

Ethnic Disparities: The data shows that individuals identified as White were the most frequently searched ethnic group, accounting for approximately 76% of all searches. However, this statistic alone doesn't reflect the ethnic composition of the area, which could reveal potential biases.

Geographical Concentration: The data indicates specific geographical clustering of stop and searches within certain latitudinal and longitudinal ranges, suggesting that law enforcement may be focusing their efforts in particular areas of Bristol.