Police search fewer black people

The disproportionate number people from ethnic communities stopped and searched by Suffolk Police compared with white people has dropped, new figures show.

But a person from the black and ethnic minorities was still 2.9 times more likely to be searched than a white person between July and September 2008.

Between July and September 2007, ethnic minorities were 4.2 times more likely to be stopped, the report says.

The figures are due to go before the Suffolk Police Authority on 5 December.

If the disproportionality continues, these communities' trust and faith in policing could be greatly affected Gulshan Kayembe, chair of the Suffolk Police Authority

Gulshan Kayembe, chair of the Suffolk Police Authority, said: "It is still early days, but the latest figures are extremely encouraging.

"The issue of stop and search goes to the very heart of the confidence and trust that communities have in the policing service, particularly for minority groups.

"If the disproportionality continues, these communities' trust and faith in policing could be greatly affected. It is our job to ensure the constabulary continues to take action to address this issue."

The figures show black people are still the most likely to be stopped and searched compared with other ethnic minority groups, but they have seen a 46% reduction in the disparity, from 8.3 times as likely to be stopped between July and September 2007 to 5.5 times July-September 2008 .

Members of the police authority's monitoring and audit committee will receive a report showing the analysis of stop and search and encounters conducted between July and September 2008.