Police use of stop and search power criticised by HMIC

Police in England and Wales have not recorded legitimate reasons to stop and search people in a quarter of cases, the police watchdog has found.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary examined 8,783 stop and searches in its first review of them.

It found that in 27%, either no grounds had been recorded or the officer had entered a reason which would not justify a search, such as speeding.

Tom Symonds reports.