Black and Asian people are still more likely to be stopped and searched by police in Greater Manchester as the force's use of these powers increases. The use of stop and search increased by around 20 pc in the last year, with the figures more than doubling in the latest period compared to the previous year.
There were 5,070 stop and search encounters from April to June of this year, according to GMP – a 139.9 pc increase compared to the same period in 2021. This increase has been intentional as the police force seek to increase arrests.
The police have powers to stop and search if they have 'reasonable grounds' to suspect someone is carrying illegal drugs, weapons or stolen property. Special powers can also be used in specific areas to stop and search without suspicion, which has also contributed to the recent rise in the city-region.
