Police want to stop and search more

POLICE chiefs want to increase stop-and-search powers by lowering the level of suspicion an officer needs before they act.

Currently “reasonable grounds” are required but, in the wake of a knife crime epidemic, Home Secretary Sajid Javid has reportedly been in talks with police about the change.

But it could reignite debate over discrimination against minority ethnic communities and infringement of civil liberties.

Adrian Hanstock, of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said: “The current threshold is very tight.

“So is there any appetite to reduce that threshold, where an officer has a genuine fear the person is at risk... or a risk to others?”