Police Stops

Police Stops (POLSTOPS) is associated with a worldwide practice carried out by the police which allows the authorities to stop a person, prevent them from continuing on their way (Bowling & Philips, 2007; Bowling & Weber, 2011), and if necessary, proceed with a search. Two types of approaches can be distinguished: the reactive approach and the proactive approach. In various European countries, S&S has been a source of considerable debate.

It is said that these practices primarily target certain population groups and, more specifically, ethnic minority groups and young people (Delsol & Shiner, 2006; Sollund, 2006). Consequently, S&S is a rather controversial practice, which can cause a negative effect on the public and affect the legitimacy of the police (Bowling & Phillips, 2007; van der Leun et al., 2014; Quinton, 2013). Despite the intense debates that exist around S&S in Europe, no cross-country scientific research has yet been conducted. Therefore, the main objective of this Cost Action is to exchange and deepen knowledge and understanding of this type of police intervention in Europe.