Traffic stop in Ipswich and subsequent search at residential address – Suffolk Constabulary, June 2020

On 9 June 2020, a man was stopped while driving a hire car by two Suffolk Constabulary police officers in West End Road, Ipswich. The driver was subsequently arrested for the possession of cannabis. Due to concerns that the man may have had drugs at his home address, officers were requested to attend his address to make sure no-one entered or exited.

Using radio transmissions, a sergeant asked whether the officers could assist with the search at the residential address.

The man complained that an officer’s behaviour amounted to harassment and unacceptable racial profiling which resulted in him being challenged on his driveway and questioned about his identity. Additionally, he complained there was no valid explanation by any of the attending officers.

During our investigation a volume of evidence was gathered. We reviewed airwave transmissions, officer body-worn video footage and obtained witness statements.

Our investigation concluded in November 2020.

We determined there was no indication that a person serving with the police committed a criminal offence or behaved in a manner justifying the bringing of disciplinary proceedings.
Throughout this investigation, we carefully considered whether there were any opportunities for learning or improvement. We make learning recommendations to improve policing and to prevent similar incidents.

In this case, we have not identified any organisational learning, but the investigation was considered as part of a wider piece of work we did to study stop and search cases nationally.