Met Police: Call for London mayor to complete stop and search study

Sadiq Khan was "determined to improve trust and confidence in the Metropolitan Police", his office said

Sadiq Khan has been accused of being "asleep on the job" in reforming the Met Police after it emerged a study into stop and search had not been delivered.

The study, which intended to examine how officers used stop and search, was promised by the London mayor more than three years ago.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request revealed it had not yet progressed.

Mr Khan's office said the study was now "taking shape".

The project was intended to examine how officers used stop and search through the use of body worn video cameras that police wear on their clothing.

The FOI response from City Hall to the Liberal Democrat mayoral candidate Rob Blackie in July stated that no current outcomes or timelines on the progression of the scheme could be provided.

Mr Blackie said Mr Khan needed to ensure the study was completed, and the results were published before the mayoral election in May next year.

"Sadiq Khan promised this study so that Londoners can properly understand how stop and search is being conducted in our city," said Mr Blackie.

"How can the Met Police learn how to be better when it's not even bothering to review what's gone wrong in the past? This is just another sign of a mayor who is asleep on the job."

The Lib Dem mayoral candidate Rob Blackie has accused Sadiq Khan of being "asleep on the job"

The project was mentioned earlier this year in Baroness Casey's review of the Met's culture, which found the force to be institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic.

Her report said the study was first discussed by the mayor's office and the Met in 2018.

But disagreements over its aims and other matters meant that it was not announced until November 2020 as part of the Mayoral Action Plan.

Since then, disagreements between City Hall and the Met are said to have continued.

The mayor's office said the project had been "delayed due to data sharing issues" but Mr Khan was "determined to improve trust and confidence in the Metropolitan Police".

A Met Police spokeswoman said the force would "continue to actively work with the mayor's office" to progress the study.

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