When British police decide to stop and search a person, they are six times more likely to target Black people than they are likely to stop and search Whites.  The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) says the disproportion between different ethnic groups remained “stubbornly high.”

“If it is used proportionally and intelligently the police can protect the public, reduce crime and disorder and improve relations with black and ethnic minority groups,” said EHRC chief executive Mark Hammond, whose group prepared the report.  “However, the overall disproportionality in the use of the powers against black, Asian and mixed race people remains stubbornly high.”

In some areas of Britain, Blacks are as much as 29 times as likely to be stopped by cops.  Asians and Mixed Race people also find themselves stopped by cops at a much higher rate than Whites.

The majority of stop-and-searches in England and Wales are conducted under Section 1 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, which requires cops to have reasonable grounds for suspecting that stolen or prohibited articles (such as an offensive weapon) will be found.  But police also invoke a law that allows them to step up stops around football games.

In July, Home Secretary Theresa May launched a campaign to make sure cops don’t target people based on race or skin color.