Police in Bristol granted enhanced powers to stop and search people after fatal stabbing 

Police officers in Bristol have been granted temporary enhanced powers to stop and search people after a third teenager was stabbed to death in the city.

Speaking at a press conference following the death of a 16-year-old boy in the St Philips area on Wednesday (February 14) evening, Bristol Police Commander Superintendent Mark Runacres said the force had made no arrests in connection to the latest death and that officers are “still actively seeking to identify suspects”.

The victim is believed to have been attacked in a nearby park by two masked individuals who fled on bicycles after the incident.

Superintendent Runacres said there was no evidence the incident was connected to a similar incident in Knowle West where teenagers Mason Rist and Max Dixon were stabbed to death last month, but officers are investigating whether it could be related to other recent stabbings in Bristol. 

Mr Runacres said: “From 5pm today, officers will be granted enhanced stop and search powers in certain parts of Bristol, meaning they will be able to stop people without needing a reasonable suspicion that they may be involved in criminality. This will allow officers to search for weapons and require someone wearing a mask or face covering to remove it.

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"This is not a decision we have taken lightly. We do know people have concerns about the use of these powers and so we have consulted with key partners in the community. There will be extra officers in the area in the coming days and I encourage anyone with concerns to please approach them.

“We fully appreciate the magnitude of this incident and other similar incidents we've seen in recent weeks. Investigations remain ongoing and we are keeping an open mind as to whether last night's tragedy is linked to other recent assaults.

“We know these incidents are causing concern among our communities, which is why we've launched an operation to tackle serious violence involving young people. This will look to identify those most at risk of carrying knives but also those most vulnerable to those crimes.”

What are section 60 stop and search powers?

• explaining why a person has been stopped
• recording the interaction on body worn video
• offering a receipt to the person who has been stopped

• that serious violence has happened or may happen in an area
• knives or other weapons that may be used in serious violence are being carried in that area
• that this will allow officers to find such weapons

Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 gives police officers in uniform the authority to stop and search any person or vehicle within a specified area for a weapon in order to prevent serious violence. 

This does not mean people will be stopped indiscriminately and officers will still follow usual stop and search processes including: Officers have also been authorised to ask people to remove face coverings if they’re reasonably believed to be worn to conceal their identity. It’s an offence to refuse and could lead to arrest. 

In Avon and Somerset officers can only be deployed in this way after completing refresher training on these powers and each team briefing will be shown a video explaining why we have taken this unusual step. 

The use of this power can be authorised by a police inspector only when they reasonably believe: The authorisation can last for up to 24 hours, after which it may be extended for a further 24 hours by a superintendent. 

Police say their decision to use these powers and searches carried out under this authority will be reviewed by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s independent Scrutiny of Police Powers Panel, who can also check and test how such searches have been carried out. 

"This is not a decision which has been taken lightly. We have spoken with community leaders and have their support for this action which aims to prevent further harm from knife violence."