Stop and Search Intiative (SASI): African-Caribbean males experience the highest "Stop" rates as "Suspected" persons!

Stop And Search Initiative (SASI)

Have you noticed an increase in Stop & Search recently? Have you noticed an increased Police presence locally? Have you noticed an increased number of Immigration "sweeps" locally?

Any and/or all of the above activities can be related to an unfounded (yet widely-held) belief that males of non-european appearance/backgrounds are not only disproportionately involved in crime but, are often likely to be illegal immigrants. This is certainly hindering community cohesion and is resulting in an increased sense of disengagement between African-Caribbean Males and the local constabulary!

What, if anything can be done, to change this state of affairs? What can we (particularly, African-Caribbean males) do as members of the local community to change these negative sterotypes, that have such a profound affect on the way we are policed! Are you willing to meet with other men in the local community to discuss your concerns about these issues? Are you willing to address your concerns to your local Member of Parliament (MP)? Are you willing to Lodge a Formal Complaint with the Metropolitan Police?

If you would like to have access to a Forum committed to addressing issues such as those outlined above (with regular meetings, workshops, Q and A sessions), please contact SASI. Similarly, if you are a professional (preferably based locally) with legal (Solicitor, CAB Adviser), Social and/or Community Worker experience and are willing to contribute your skills to help make SASI a success in Croydon, please contact us, we need all the help we can get!

The primary objective of SASI is to educate and support vulnerable members of the community who have been (or are most likely to become) victims of racially-motivated, non-intelligence led Stop and Search. In the process we intend to create a climate of co-operation between the local Police and the African-Caribbean Community, which will lead to positive, constructive change in the way this particular tool of policing is utilised!