A quick* look at the relationship between #knifecrime offence rates and #stopsearch offence rates (2017/18 figures). First, here with all forces and the E&W avg.

MPS a clear outlier on both measures (note these are *rates* not totals).

[*not that quick to produce]

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Now with the MPS and E&W avg removed. No relationship *at all* between the two measures.

So rates of #knifecrime do not explain rates of #stopsearch in general.

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Sources:

#Knifecrime rates: @commonslibrary data http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN04304/CBPSN04304.download.xlsx taken from https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn04304/ (most recent are for 2017/18)

#Stopsearch rates: https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/crime-justice-and-the-law/policing/stop-and-search/latest/downloads/stop-and-search-data.csv taken from https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/crime-justice-and-the-law/policing/stop-and-search/latest (I used the 2017/18 numbers)

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Really important point: 2017/18 was *before* the MPS started their 3x increase of #stopsearch, so SS rates in the Met are now *much* higher

https://twitter.com/gmhales/status/1278412091922223105?s=20

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Here's what the first chart looks like with the MPS 2019/20 figures added ( #knifecrime rate up 6%, #stopsearch rate up 110%).

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*typo: they are stop and search rates, not stop and search offence rates.