THE probability of a black person being stopped and searched in Surrey is seven times more likely than a white person, figures have shown.

Nationally across England and Wales the number of stop and searches have fallen by 12 per cent, but the number of black people being stopped when compared to other ethnic groups is much higher.

The study by The Independent sought information from 43 forces across England and Wales of which 39 supplied figures, found that 36 of the forces were carrying out more stop and searches on black residents than their fellow white people.

Surrey is one of 14 forces across the country to launch the Home Office stop and search mapping which allows the public to go online at www.police.uk to see exactly the location and outcome of every stop and search in the county. It means for the first time people in the Surrey area can see details like the ethnicity, gender and age range of those who are stopped and searched.

Surrey Police says it fully complies with the national guidelines around stop and search and is committed to ensuring that officers are using the powers appropriately.

The force also introduced a community complaints trigger, ensuring that complaints are properly monitored and scrutinised. The force is committed through the scheme to reduce the overall use of stop and search, have more intelligence-led stop and searches and more effective outcomes.