HARINGEY INDEPENDENT STOP & SEARCH MONITORING GROUP
HISSMG: What is our Mission?
At Haringey Independent Stop and Search Monitoring Group, our mission centres on championing transparency, accountability, and fairness in how stop and search powers are used by police in Haringey. As a wholly independent and voluntary community group, we've led the way in police monitoring since 2010, and we remain determined to embody the following principles:
Transparency, Accountability, and Fairness
We work to ensure all stop and searches in Haringey are properly scrutinised, holding police accountable for every encounter and striving for fair policing for all people in our borough.
Independent Advice and Information
We serve as a community-led source of stop and search information, providing residents with accessible guidance about their rights— especially in cases of unlawful stop and searches or unreasonable stop and search activity.
Amplifying Community Voices
We focus on listening to those most affected by stop and search. Our group relays local people's experiences and concerns directly to the police and authorities to promote change.
A Critical Friend to the Police
Our role as a ‘critical friend' is vital. We scrutinise police practices, recommend improvements to stop and search policies, and advocate for greater openness in policing.
Our Members
We're a diverse team living or working across Haringey, committed to fairness in local policing. As a community police monitoring group:
- Over half our members have personal experience of being stopped and searched.
- Our skills span youth work, education, research, and equality and diversity training.
- We're all volunteers, motivated by a real passion to improve fairness and effectiveness in policing.
Meet the Team
Bennett
CHAIR
With more than 25 years' experience scrutinising the Met Police, Bennett is a tireless advocate for fair policing. His deep commitment to Haringey leads him to check police Body Worn Videos regularly, ensuring stop and search encounters are fair, lawful, and just. As Chair of Haringey Independent Stop and Search Monitoring Group, Bennett's hands-on approach builds trust and maintains scrutiny at every level.
Dixie
DEPUTY CHAIR
Dixie works as a freelance Community Engagement Facilitator and has a vast impact on police training and transparency. Her focus is on educating Met police officers, particularly around procedural justice and accountability in stop and searches, underpinning our community monitoring group's role in promoting reform.
Sara
JOINT YOUTH LEAD
Sara, a youth outreach Project Lead, joined HISSMG after hearing countless negative experiences of stop and search from local young people. Her daily work on the streets with Haringey's youth makes her uniquely qualified to amplify their voices when they feel powerless or excluded.
Andrew
JOINT YOUTH LEAD
Andrew is a dedicated youth worker, football coach, and Haringey resident. His own distressing experience, when he and his teenage son were stopped and searched during a charity bike event, fuels his commitment to challenging unreasonable stop and search practices.
Lynn
COMPLAINTS LEAD
A longstanding advocate for gender and racial equality, Lynn dedicates her skills to supporting community members through the official police complaints process. She's passionate about helping those who've faced unfairness and ensuring every complaint is heard and addressed.
Herval
RESEARCH LEAD
Herval brings significant research experience, having worked on major projects examining police practices—including stop and search scrutiny, taser use, and sexual assault investigations. His academic background makes him invaluable in producing thorough, community-focused research.
Naomi
SECRETARY & TREASURER
Naomi's journey started after witnessing a distressing stop and search involving her friend. Her dedication to racial justice and fair policing is reflected in her role, keeping the group organised and financially sound while campaigning for just outcomes for all.
Melina
SOCIAL MEDIA LEAD
Melina volunteers to champion the voices of Black families and children, especially those with special educational needs. Her goal is to ensure nobody in Haringey goes unheard, and she works tirelessly to keep equity and transparency at the centre of our communications.
Notes of the Last Meeting
As a community monitoring group, we believe in transparency. Key notes from all Haringey Independent Stop and Search Monitoring Group meetings, will be publicly available here soon. This allows our Haringey community to stay informed and see exactly how we're holding the police to account regarding stop and search practices in your area.
Ready to learn more or support fair policing?
Explore our What We Do or Help & Support pages, or ask us directly at enquiries@hissmg.co.uk or on 07763 681 371. We're always here for our Haringey community.
