Fairness
Ensuring stop and search is applied lawfully and proportionately.
Transparency
Making policing practices clear and accountable to the community.
Trust
Building stronger relationships between communities and local policing.
About us
The Sutton Stop and Search Community Monitoring Group is made up of people who live or work in the borough and want to ensure any stop and searches are fair, proportionate, and accountable.
We bring together people from different backgrounds, ages and experiences to:
– Look at how stop and search is used locally
– Listen to community concerns and lived experiences
– Work with the police and partners to improve practice
We are independent, but we work constructively with the police, council, and voluntary sector because meaningful change happens through openness and dialogue.
Our role isn’t to take sides — it’s to make sure stop and search is:
– Used lawfully
– Applied fairly
– Properly recorded and explained
– Open to community scrutiny
We believe trust grows when communities are informed, listened to, and involved.
What We Do
Simply put – we monitor how the police carry out Stop and Search in Sutton
Our activities include:
– Looking closely at stop and search activity, including reviewing body worn video, local data, trends and patterns to understand how these powers are being used.
– Providing a space for community voices to be heard, especially from people who have been stopped or feel these powers are being used unfairly.
– Sharing what we learn with the police and decision-makers and working together to make improvements that build confidence and fairness.
– Supporting informed discussion and transparency about stop and search in Sutton because better understanding helps build stronger relationships.
GO WISELY
GOWISELY is an acronym used during stop and search. Each letter stands for important information the officer should give you so you understand why you’re being stopped and what’s happening.
G – Grounds for suspicion
O – Object of the search
W – Warrant card
I – Identity of the police officer(s)
S – Station
E – Entitlement to a search record
L – Legal power used
Y – ‘You are detained for the purpose of a search’
F.A.Q.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. We are independent from both. We do, however, meet regularly with the police and local partners to raise issues, share findings, and push for improvements.
Absolutely. Lived experience is important and welcome. You don’t need any special qualifications to be involved.
We don’t investigate complaints or replace the formal complaints process. However, we can:
– Help you understand your options
– Signpost you to the right organisation
– Use anonymised feedback to highlight wider issues
Yes – you need to be at least 16 years old to join the group. If you want to go through vetting to view body-worn video footage, you must be 18 or over.
If you are under 16 years old, then why not sign up to the Sutton Youth IAG.
No. Our focus is community oversight, fairness, and accountability. We aim to work respectfully and constructively with all partners.
No – you don’t need to be vetted to join. Vetting is only required if you’ll be viewing body-worn video footage as part of your involvement.
Useful Links
Further information on Stop and Search
Official MET Police guidance on how stop and search powers work, your rights during a stop, and how to get records or share your experience.
Other ways to be involved in improving Stop and Search
Different ways you can have a say, including Ride Along schemes and Police Encounter Panels.
MPS Stop and Search Dashboard
This dashboard provides official up-to-date MET Police stop and search data so you can see how these powers are being used in Sutton and across London.
Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)
The IOPC is the independent police complaints watchdog for England and Wales. They investigate the most serious complaints and conduct matters involving the police, and set the standards by which the police should handle complaints.
What are you waiting for?
Ready to take the next step? Click on the ‘Join Us’ button to fill in a quick form
and let us know you are interested..