What’s this page about?

Since January 2024, members of the CMG have attended Bethnal Green police station to watch randomly selected videos of stop and searches carried out in the past month. These videos, which the CMG is supposed to view monthly, have been filmed on police officers’ Body-Worn Video (BWV) cameras. Since October 2024, the CMG has provided feedback on these videos using an online form, which police are expected to respond to. It is hoped this will lead to better accountability.

Due to a confidentiality agreement with the Met, the CMG is not allowed to provide identifying information about the searches. In the interests of transparency and oversight, however, we share our anonymised notes below.

If you have been subject to a stop and search in Tower Hamlets and want to speak to us in complete confidence, you can email us at our secure email: thcmg@protonmail.com Please be assured that we will not discuss anything you tell us with the police, unless you ask us to.

January 2025

The CMG did not have a BWV viewing this month.

February 2025

The CMG uses an online form to record feedback during BWV viewings. The February form can be viewed here. We provided the following feedback on each video and this was the police’s response.

CMG feedback for first video: When the officer's badge number was requested - recording officer refused to provide 

Officer conducting stop and search on the recording officer's left used Section 50 grounds to obtain name and address off the back of smell of cannabis (?) - would this constitute sufficient grounds to request someone's personal details?

Overall, compliant stop and search assisted by compliant young people being detained and searched. Officers seemed to pester on obtaining name and address, despite them refusing and knowing they're within rights not to. Officers on the left using section 50 to demand name and address - unclear whether basis of smelling like cannabis is sufficient to exercise those powers.

Please can you answer the question posed and pass this feedback on to the officer involved via an email to the officer and their line manager in line with our feedback agreement. Please confirm that this has been done, we are open to hearing the officer's response. Given the length of time that has passed, the officer may need to review the footage. Rated: Neutral (but CMG Chair's opinion is it may be an Amber if the officer wrongfully used their s.50 powers).

Police response: Feedback passed on but no response received from the officer or to our question.

CMG feedback for second video: Officers did not state name of station, nor inform of entitlement to copy of search record. Unclear whether identity was provided - object also unclear because across search record, and this stop and search - 2 different grounds were provided/alternated between: S1 PACE (search form), and then S23 MODA.

Person detained struggled with English - officers immediately aggressive, dismissive and rude towards him. Various comments made 'you're very distrusting etc' . Also, caution at the end was given very quickly - too fast for anyone to understand

Immediate use of force and aggression by 3 officers from the outset - escalated the situation rather than calm the situation down and allow for dialogue to set out explanation. Extent of force felt disproportionate.

Section 1 PACE used and in broad way in search form - but then during stop and search, s23 was cited. Inconsistent record/use of powers.

Main concerns:

- Level of force used from the outset felt excessive and disproportionate - particularly resulting in moped toppling over.

- Dismissive/aggressive attitude by all 3 officers - one could have de-escalated. Led to confusion, waste of time.

- Grounds cited/used - section 1 PACE and section 23 MODA - both used on vague and general grounds, and inconsistently e.g. s1 used simply because they were driving a moped, and associations with that, despite the moped clearly being a delivery vehicle. And unclear on what grounds s23 was identified and set out.

Please pass this feedback on to the officer involved via an email to the officer and line manager in line with our feedback agreement. Please confirm that this has been done, we are open to hearing the officer's response. Given the length of time that has passed, the officer may need to review the footage. As multiple elements of the search are flawed, the officer should be offered support from a stop and search mentor and their line manager should be asked to follow-up by reviewing their next 3 searches in line with our feedback agreement. Please confirm once this has been done and note that if further searches show issues, the officer should be provided with Learning Through Reflection. The CMG expects to be kept updated on this. Rated: Amber

Police response: Feedback passed on but no response received from the officer.

CMG feedback on third video: Only point of feedback - whether measures could be implemented to follow up on knowledge of vulnerability

Please pass this feedback on to the officer involved via an email to the officer and line manager in line with our feedback agreement. Please confirm that this has been done, we are open to hearing the officer's response. Given the length of time that has passed, the officer may need to review the footage. Rated: Green

Police response: Feedback passed on but no response received from the officer.

March 2025

The CMG did not have a BWV viewing this month.

April 2025

The CMG uses an online form to record feedback during BWV viewings. The April form can be viewed here. We provided the following feedback on each video and this was the police’s response.

CMG feedback on first video: Rated neutral, no feedback to pass on.

CMG feedback on second video: Rated neutral, no feedback to pass on.

CMG feedback on third video: Rated neutral, officer rushed through GOWISELY even once detained/under control - this meant search receipt point not fully set out (the "E" of GOWISELY).

Response from officer who did the stop and search: Out of curiosity have the members of the panel had to engage in some sort of role play around stop and search to understand it or is it just a completely third party opinion? Thanks for the feedback I will note that for next time.

CMG feedback on fourth video: Rated Amber. GOWISELY not followed - officers did not say what they were looking for

Communication was poor: Asked multiple questions that would have been more appropriate to an interview after arrested. Told him what he was saying was "bullshit". They also threatened to arrest him for stealing the car despite not having evidence it was stolen. I found the officers' faux-friendly tone quite disrespectful and patronising, it also really jarred with them then disbelieving him/being sarcastic towards him. They also made jokes to each other about him. There was a complete absence of professionalism.

Grounds fairly spurious: Police said eyes were glazed, he seemed startled and there was a smell of perfume that could be using to cover up the smell of cannabis. That is both subjective and speculative.

Police response: Feedback passed on but no response received.

CMG feedback on fifth video: Rated neutral. Female officer had a good tone and was respectful - her colleague could have been more respectful. For GOWISELY please slow down and speak more clearly (this is a repeat problem for most officers). Needs to make sure her BWV camera is not obscured and it doesn't stop before interaction ends.

Response from officer who did the stop and search: Thank you for your feedback, it’s great to know both of my stops were looked at positively, it always gives a confidence boost.

Regarding BWV not showing full interaction – I have switched my BWV off once I was completing the checks and called my supervisor in the vehicle, away from the subject. Once this was done and I got out of the vehicle the BWV was reactivated to show the rest of the interaction (questioning under caution, explaining PCR procedures etc.). As S23 MDA has been completed on the first BWV, I would not have thought the other BWV footage would be relevant for the public eye. But just for feedback on this from my side for the future group panels – more BWV which were not uploaded onto stop and searches might exist.

And regarding camera being partially obstructed by my jacket at times – yes, that is what cannot be avoided sometimes and it’s a part of working in plain clothes (undercover..).