ALMOST 22 per cent of the people stopped and searched last year in Southampton were black or a minority ethnicity (BME).

According to Hampshire police statistics, black people are four times more likely to be stopped and searched by police compared to a white person.

Southampton has around 236,850 residents and of that 12 per cent are of BME, showing the proportion of people of BME being stopped and searched is higher.

According to the figures, in 2016 police stopped 8,717 people in Hampshire. In total 16 per cent were of BME, making someone who is black six times more likely to be stopped.

In Winchester a black person is 16 times more likely to be stopped than a white person.

However the report noted the high figures in the city did not take in to account that the majority of the black people being stopped were not locals. And, according to intelligence, it mirrored drug trafficking problems and the majority of drug dealers travelling to Winchester being young black men from London.

On the opposite end of the scale, Fareham was one of the least likely places for someone of BME to be stopped. But, black people were still five times more likely to be stopped than someone who was white.

In the Test Valley 381 people were stopped and around 13 per cent of those were BME. In total 581 were stopped in the New Forest, 41 of which were BME.

In Eastleigh police stopped and searched 388 people, 11 per cent of which were BME.

Don John, a race and diversity consultant for Don John Consultants, said the stop and search tool was an important part in combating crime but he was concerned young black men in particular were appearing to be singled out.

He added almost 70 per cent of cases resulted in no further action being taken.

He said Prime Minister Theresa May had noted that nobody won when stop and search was misapplied.

“The figures are alarming, unacceptably high and a serious waste of police time at a time where police budgets are stretched," Mr John said.

“It is hoped that we will continue to work with the police to examine ways in which the numbers of black people stopped and searched is no greater proportionately to those stopped who are white. We believe that this will contribute to better community relations and allow the police to spend that time in combatting crimes that produce tangible results.”

Superintendent Ali Heydari said police officers must have reasonable grounds for suspicion to use their stop and search power. She added each stop and search was qualified and recorded and followed national guidelines.

“We work hard to engage with our communities to build up accurate intelligence pictures, which is how we assess the need to use stop and search,” Supt Heydari said.

She added they also launched a campaign ‘Keep Calm and Know Your Rights’ in April 2013 that served to educate young people on stop and search and their rights.

Supt Heydari said they continually assessed and monitored their stop and search power and compared data which was collated every three months.

She added they also supported Independent Advisory Groups which reviewed their policing practices and assessed the data.