Campaign groups in Britain, however, are now calling for an urgent review of Schedule 7.
“Stop-and-searches are happening based on stereotyping rather than being intelligence-led. We need more checks and balances in the operation of this measure,” Ratna Lachman of JUST West Yorkshire, an organisation that promotes racial justice, civil liberties and human rights, told a media house.
Figures show that 53,992 people were stopped as they left or entered the UK in 2012-13.
Those who were Asian were 11.3 times more likely to be stopped than those who were white.
Those who were black were 6.3 times more likely to be stopped and those who were mixed race were 3.6 times more likely to be stopped.
The UK government had carried out a review of Schedule 7 powers in 2012, including a public consultation and introduced a number of reforms, which are currently going through Parliament.
These include allowing those held for longer than an hour to consult a solicitor, a reduction in the time someone can be held from nine hours to six hours, and training and accreditation for all officers using Schedule 7 powers.
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