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Police stop and search figures up Police stop and search figures up
(about 1 hour later)
People stopped and searched by police increased by 9% to nearly a million in 2006-7, with black people seven times more likely to be stopped as whites. Police stop and searches increased by 9% to nearly a million in 2006-7, with black people seven times more likely to be stopped as white people.
Figures published by the Ministry of Justice also showed black UK murder victims were more likely to be shot than Asians or whites. Ministry of Justice figures for England and Wales also showed black murder victims were more likely to be shot than Asian or white victims.
Some 27% of black victims were shot, compared with 5% of white victims.Some 27% of black victims were shot, compared with 5% of white victims.
The statistics for the three years up to 2006/07 also showed a 3.7% rise in racist incidents recorded by police.The statistics for the three years up to 2006/07 also showed a 3.7% rise in racist incidents recorded by police.
The rise was also reflected in the British Crime Survey.The rise was also reflected in the British Crime Survey.
The figures showed 955,000 people were stopped and searched in 2006/7 alone, an increase of 9% and the highest figure since 1998/9.The figures showed 955,000 people were stopped and searched in 2006/7 alone, an increase of 9% and the highest figure since 1998/9.
The reasons for these variations [in stop and search] are multiple and include economic and social factors as well as policing practice and individual behaviour Chief Constable Craig Mackey, Acpo
Asian people were twice as likely to be stopped and searched as white people, according to the report.Asian people were twice as likely to be stopped and searched as white people, according to the report.
The reasons given for most of the stops across all ethnic groups were suspected drugs or stolen property.
A third of stop and searches were carried out by the Metropolitan Police in London.
There was also a large rise in the number of people stopped by the police and asked to account for themselves - up by a third to 1.87m in 2006/7.
Police only recently began recording this category of stops, which have been at the centre of controversy because of the amount of police time taken up by filling out the relevant forms.
In these stops black people were more than twice as likely to be stopped as white people.
The report also showed that 11% of murder victims were black, although they only make up 2.8% of the population. Eight per cent were Asian people, who represent 4.7% of the population, and three per cent were from other minority groups.
'Hot spots'
The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said it was working hard to make sure everyone had confidence the system operated fairly and offered "protection to victims of crime regardless of their background".
Chief Constable Craig Mackey of Cumbria Constabulary, the Acpo lead on stop and search, said it was crucial to have a "visible and responsive policing presence" to reduce crime.
"Figures that point out disparity between black and white with respect to arrest rates, victims of crime and stop and search do not provide any indication of the reasons for significant differences, " he said.
“Acpo supports the proper use of stop and search, while recognising that it continues to attract comment and concern with minority communities.
"The reasons for the rise are varied across forces but include improved use of intelligence to target activity, increased focus on street crime and better briefing and training."
He added that it was important to remember that searches generally do no occur evenly across any force area but are usually targeted on "hot spots".
"It is becoming increasingly recognised that the reasons for these variations are multiple and include economic and social factors as well as policing practice and individual behaviour," he added.