The Community Confidence Board is scheduled to discuss several key areas related to policing in South Yorkshire. The meeting's agenda includes updates on stop and search, use of force, hate crime, and the Police Race Action Plan. Additionally, reports for information on performance and the Independent Ethics Panel's annual review will be presented.

Stop and Search

The board is set to review the use of stop and search powers. Documents indicate that while there is strong community support for stop and search when used correctly, His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) provides guidance on positive indicators, such as officers having the confidence to interact fairly, the use of body-worn video, and support for independent scrutiny. Data presented shows that in March 2026, 5.4% of the population were subject to stop and search, with positive outcomes recorded in 34% of cases. While there is no significant disproportionality in positive outcomes across different ethnic groups, the Black group shows significantly higher rates in relation to the resident population. Progress has been noted in the recording of 'reasonable grounds' for searches, with 92.4% of records now containing them, an improvement from 76% in 2021, attributed to force-wide training and a revised recording system. An infographic is now shared quarterly on the South Yorkshire Police (SYP) website to inform the public. Internal and external scrutiny panels are held every six weeks to review the use of this power. A challenge identified relates to supervisor sign-offs on stop and search reports, with plans to establish a better means for supervisors to record feedback and identify trends. Safeguarding children subjected to stop and search is also a focus, with a mandated Vulnerable Child Form for anyone under 18, though work is ongoing to improve data accuracy regarding this age group.

Use of Force

The board will also consider the use of force by police officers. HMICFRS guidance on positive indicators for the use of force includes officers having the knowledge and confidence to interact fairly, the use of body-worn video, and support for independent scrutiny processes, with force being recorded as justified, proportionate, and fair. Data for March 2026 indicates 11.7 incidents per 1,000 population for the use of force, with a rate of 67.4 incidents per 100 arrests. Similar to stop and search, the Black group shows significantly higher rates in relation to the resident population, though disproportionality in use of force per arrest is not significant, except for a slightly lower rate in the 'Other' group. Significant improvements have been made in recording use of force incidents, with submissions increasing by 366% since 2020/21, largely due to the recording of compliant handcuffing. Body-worn video devices were used in 91.9% of occasions when force was used, and activated in 76% of those instances. Monthly internal and community scrutiny panels review use of force incidents. Challenges include supervisor sign-offs, with plans to use business intelligence data to monitor compliance and improve the sign-off function within the record management system. Data recording accuracy, including Self Defined Ethnicity (SDE), location services, and supervisor sign-offs, is an ongoing focus, with a force-wide campaign planned to improve SDE accuracy. Safeguarding children subjected to the use of force is also a priority, with Vulnerable Child (VC) forms to be mandatory in such cases, and these will be shared with Children's Social Care.

Hate Crime

Discussions are scheduled to cover hate crime, with reports indicating a slight increase in volumes over the last 26 months, including a rise in offences committed online. Data shows fluctuations in monthly hate crime incidents, with a total of 18,698 recorded between January 2022 and May 2026. Non-crime hate incidents have been decreasing due to changes in recording introduced in 2024. Hate race remains the strand with the largest volume of hate crimes, accounting for 69% of all hate crimes in South Yorkshire. Regarding religion, hate crime volumes for Muslim victims have been higher than for Jewish victims in recent years. The force has been raising awareness through participation in Hate Awareness Week and has Hate Crime Coordinators (HCC) in each district. Neighbourhood officers now take ownership of all hate crime investigations, ensuring prompt responses and victim support. A new hate training package is being developed for frontline staff, and a draft engagement strategy aims to tackle under-reporting and build trust. Challenges include a national rise in hate-related offences due to global conflict, though this is not directly reflected in SYP figures, and ongoing concerns within communities. Changes in Non-Crime Hate Incident guidance are being monitored, with a revised Code of Practice expected. Disproportionality in suspect data relating to 10-17 year olds, who commit around 20% of hate crimes, is being addressed through engagement in schools. The engagement strategy also aims to address the lower action taken rate for female victims of hate crime. The Hate Scrutiny Panel meets every six months and will expand its membership and revise its approach in 2026.

Police Race Action Plan

The meeting will also address the Police Race Action Plan, launched nationally in May 2022 to improve policing for Black and Black heritage people. South Yorkshire Police (SYP) developed its own local plan, published in October 2024, focusing on six themes: building an anti-racist, inclusive, and informed workforce; increasing representation; proportionate use of police powers; improving relationships and confidence within communities; supporting Black colleagues; and achieving justice and protecting victims. A national Maturity Matrix, introduced in September 2025, measures forces' progress against the plan, and SYP is aligning its local plan with this for annual assessment. Key achievements include delivering inclusion training to 61% of colleagues, reviewing all training for equality and inclusivity, reaching an eight-year high in ethnic minority recruits, and facilitating dedicated coaching and mentoring sessions. The plan also focuses on improving the recording of use of powers, developing an app to record vehicle stops, and establishing internal and external groups for scrutiny and lived experience input. Challenges include aligning local plan activities with the national Maturity Matrix, ensuring training and systems are embedded, increasing representation in senior ranks, and improving engagement with demographics most likely to interact with SYP. Next steps involve completing the alignment exercise for annual assessment, ongoing development of training and systems, embedding initiatives for attraction, recruitment, retention, and career progression, and improving reporting mechanisms for Black communities.

Reports for Information

The board will receive reports for information, including a Performance Update and the Independent Ethics Panel Annual Report for 2025/26. The Independent Ethics Panel (IEP) provides independent oversight of ethical issues in policing across South Yorkshire, aiming to assure the Mayor and Deputy Mayor that policing is fair, transparent, and accountable. The IEP found good engagement and openness from SYP, with a willingness to be scrutinised and learn from feedback. Evidence of progress was noted in leadership development, inclusion training, and transparency in professional standards. However, areas requiring continued focus include strengthening recruitment initiatives for underrepresented communities, enhancing work on community cohesion, and addressing disproportionality, particularly for Asian women impacted by vetting outcomes. Progress in digital policing and the ethical use of new technologies has been more limited, pending SYP's Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Ethics strategy. The IEP's priorities for 2026/27 include deepening work on community cohesion and hate crime, continuing scrutiny of disproportionality and professional standards, strengthening oversight of digital and AI policing, and expanding community engagement.