Police force declines new powers lowering bar for stop and search

West Midlands police say they did not need section 60 powers now being piloted nationwide. West Midlands police have refused to take up an offer of new powers to make it easier for officers to conduct stop and searches. The force was included in a pilot scheme to lower the level of authorisation needed for such searches, but data shows officers still sought approval from assistant chief constables. Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act allows officers to search anyone in a desi