Stops and searches of blacks on the rise

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One in four youths carries a knife in school or on the street

The row over police use of stop and search has erupted again as new Home Office figures show that black people are now seven times more likely to be targeted than whites.

Official statistics show that while the number of white people stopped and searched last year fell by 18 per cent, the use of the tactics on black people increased by 4 per cent. Disproportionate stop and search between blacks and whites has increased from five times more likely in 1999-2000 to seven times more likely in the 12 months to last April.

The findings will undermine the confidence of black communities in the police after repeated reassurances that stop and search was being used more selectively. Detective Inspector Leroy Logan of the National Black Police Association said: "If these stops and searches are around stereotypical reasons for stopping black people, then I would be very concerned."

In the Metropolitan Police area, the use of stop and search fell by 6 per cent. But whereas the stopping of white suspects decreased by 13.6 per cent, the number of black people targeted increased by 6.2 per cent and the number of Asians questioned rose by 2.9 per cent. Black people were six times more likely to be stopped and searched than whites in the capital.

The findings appear to contradict claims by some police leaders that officers have been afraid of stopping black suspects for fear of being branded racist.

The release of the figures follows a debate over rising public concerns over street crime. Home Office research has found that disproportionate numbers of black males are involved in street robberies. There is also growing concern over levels of gun crime.

Last week Mike Best, editor of The Voice newspaper, aimed at Afro-Caribbeans, said that black communities would welcome greater use of stop and search, provided that police were open-handed.

Tomorrow, Home Secretary David Blunkett will attempt to reassure black people about stop and search by placing an article in The Voice in which he announces changes to the procedure. Police officers will in future carry bus conductor-style machines that allow on-the-spot tickets to be given. The tickets will include the name of the police officer and the reasons for the stop. For race monitoring purposes, people will be asked for their definition of their ethnicity.

The changes will apply to all stops and were a recommendation of Sir William Macpherson's inquiry into the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence. The new system will require changes to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, and will be subject to consultation.

Delroy Lindo, a civil rights activist from London, sought legal action against the Metropolitan Police after they stopped and searched him more than 37 times in eight years. He said the police were failing to keep a formal record of stops and searches and searched people and the actual figures were a lot higher. "The police say they have cut down but I don't believe this is true," he said. "Even if they stop people to look into a car that is still a stop."