Commenting on Conservative plans to introduce blanket police stop and search powers, Liberal Democrat Mayoral candidate, Brian Paddick, said:

“Whatever the reality, given black and Asian people are six times more likely than white people to get stopped and searched, it is going to be difficult to convince ethnic minorities that the police should be given more powers.

“The Tories should be encouraging the police to use a more intelligence-led approach to targeting criminals, not a less intelligent one. The way to make our streets safe is to win the trust of all communities, many of whom know who the gun and knifemen are.

“The police need the political backing to change the way they use stop and search, to make it more effective. Currently Home Office targets are diverting police attention away from tackling the issues of concern to local people. As Mayor of London I would provide that political backing.”