Police face legal action over search tactics

Most constabularies in England and Wales are continuing to use the powers "disproportionately" against ethnic minorities, a review by the EHRC concluded.

Black people are still six times more likely to be stopped and searched than white people, while those from a perceived Asian background were twice as likely.

The EHRC found that in London, almost 20 per cent of black people were stopped and searched between 2007 and 2008.

Commission chiefs wrote to forces warning that they could potentially be sued over possible breaches of the Race Relations Act.

EHRC commissioner Simon Woolley said: "It is time that we saw a real improvement in these statistics. It is not enough for the police simply to launch new initiatives if those initiatives don't produce results.

"There is little evidence to suggest that targeting black people disproportionately with stop and search powers reduces crime.

"In fact, this report shows evidence that police forces, like Staffordshire and Cleveland, which have used fairer stop and search tactics have not only seen reductions in crimes rates in line with overall trends, but have also increased public confidence in the police.

"The commission will be looking closely at this research and will be writing to police forces with the most concerning statistics to gain a better understanding of how they are meeting their obligations under the Race Relations Act. We cannot rule out taking legal action against some police forces."

Among the areas with the most disproportionate use of stop and search powers between black and white people were Dorset, the West Midlands, Hampshire and Nottinghamshire.

The evidence suggested that racial stereotyping and discrimination were significant factors behind the higher rates of stops and searches, the commission said.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: "The government is committed to delivering a policing service and a wider criminal justice system, which promotes equality and does not discriminate against anyone because of their race. There will be no let-up in driving forward the improvements still needed.

"The National Policing Improvement Agency's Next Steps programme will enable individual police forces to address these issues in stop and search more effectively."