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San Francisco police won't stop and frisk

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- The mayor of San Francisco has decided not to institute New York's "stop and frisk" policy, opting for a policy advocates say is less politically charged.

Ed Lee said in June he would begin a stop and frisk policy to reduce gun violence in the city, but outcries by community and church leaders, as well as opposition by the Board of Supervisors, changed his mind, the New York Post reported.

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The New York practice has drawn complaints that officers use racial profiling to decide who to stop. More than 80 percent of those stopped and frisked have been black or Latino. Only 10 percent were found to have done anything wrong.

With Lee's approach, police presence in San Francisco's southeastern neighborhoods will be increased, said Police Chief Greg Suhr. The police will arrest anyone found violating their probation or parole or the city's injunctions against gangs.

Additionally, the department will use computer software to produce real-time data to predict where gun violence might occur next.

The plan also will use ministers to act as go-betweens for police and informants, as well as to gather tips and guns for the police.

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The NYPD modified its policy in reaction to critics, resulting in the numbers of stops falling by 34 percent between April and June.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said during that period crime shot up 12.4 percent. He does not plan to end stop and frisk.

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