This book offers a critical realist analysis of police stop and search practices in England, examining the underlying mechanisms that drive both intended and unintended outcomes. Stop and search remain controversial: seen by many as necessary for preventing crime, yet criticised for perpetuating harm through racial discrimination and strained police-community relationships.

Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork, interviews with police officers and stakeholders, and quantitative analysis of stop and search data, the book identifies the contextual factors and generative mechanisms that shape how stop and search is used and what outcomes it produces. It reveals how historical tensions between police and marginalised communities, inconsistent political messaging, and an emphasis on low-level drug enforcement contribute to disproportionate targeting of ethnic minorities and socio-economically disadvantaged areas.