A POLICE watchdog has raised concerns over Cheshire Constabulary's use of stop and search.

The Home Secretary has suspended Cheshire Police Force from the Best Use of Stop and Search Scheme with immediate effect.

The force will face a fresh emergency inspection in three months’ time.

Her decision came as a report from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) uncovered too many of the stop and search records did not contain sufficient reasonable grounds for conducting the search.

It was also revealed that there was no evidence to suggest that the force was undertaking analysis to understand why black, Asian and minority ethnic people were disproportionately affected by stop and search in Cheshire.

Cheshire Police is one of 13 forces in England and Wales who are failing to comply with at least three of the five elements of the scheme, which they voluntarily signed up to.

But despite concerns raised it was noted that the constabulary does have 'effective processes' to select and train officers in the use of Taser.

HMIC also found that the chief constable and the chief officer team actively promoted the Code of Ethics and that the constabulary dealt with complaints and misconduct in a 'fair and appropriate way'.

The force was graded as outstanding for the methods used to engage with the people they service and discover their needs.

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: "HMIC identified one area in its review for Cheshire that requires improvement regarding the use of stop and search.

“Stop and search is a vital power for the police service to protect people and reduce and deter criminality in the local community. 

“It is imperative that we apply our powers to individuals in a fair and legitimate way and that our actions are monitored to give the public confidence in how we use stop and search in Cheshire.

“This is an area that has been highlighted in the HMIC Legitimacy Review as one requiring improvement and is one that we are taking extremely seriously.

“The force has already improved its position since the inspection and the police and crime commissioner for Cheshire will continue to monitor progress.

“This includes enhanced awareness and training for officers to ensure they have all the information they need to fully understand the grounds required to stop and search; and that records include sufficient grounds to justify the use of this power and that this is recorded properly.

“The chief constable is overseeing this important area of work and we are making better use of technology to ensure that when we use the power we record it properly.

“We are working to make sure the public can scrutinise the actions of local officers. 

"This includes recruiting a panel of lay observers to see first-hand the work carried out by officers and to feedback on this, to explain to local community groups how we are using stop and search powers and to provide channels for the public to raise any issues – positive or negative – with the force.”