POLICE in Keighley stopped and searched 36 people in one month, new figures show.

Of those, 34 were male and one female... and one was classed as 'unknown'!

Twenty-three were classified as white British, eight as Asian, two as 'white other', one black, one mixed white/Asian and the other 'unknown'.

The information, which relates to June, is contained in a report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) following inspections it carried out on the stop and search processes of nine police forces, including West Yorkshire.

Across Bradford district, 278 people were stopped and searched.

The reasons given for the stop and searches included stolen goods, drugs, firearms, going equipped for theft and possessing offensive weapons.

The district’s figures were broken down into six neighbourhood policing teams.

The highest figure, 85, was in Bradford South, while the lowest number – 28 – was in Shipley.

HMIC said there had been improvements in West Yorkshire in almost all areas since a previous report in 2013, and the force had made efforts to improve guidance it provides to officers, but said more could be done to guide them on what a successful stop and search is.

It also said: “It was disappointing to find the force had not developed routes through which people could feed back if they felt dissatisfied about their stop and search encounter so practice could be improved.”

It added: “Due to the absence of records, we were unable to assess how effectively and fairly officers in West Yorkshire Police use the Road Traffic Act power to stop vehicles. However, we were pleased to find the force recorded the use of Police Reform Act powers to search for and seize alcohol and tobacco, although the numbers recorded were very low.”

Superintendent Keith Gilert, of West Yorkshire Police, said: “We are pleased this latest HMIC report has recognised the leadership being shown in this area and that the work ongoing to ensure use of stop and search in West Yorkshire is lawful, proportionate and properly recorded is focused into the right areas.

“We want to be able to reassure our communities that our use of this power is fair and that it is being done to make communities safer and feel safer.

“We are carrying out more training about the appropriate use of stop and search, and have amended our systems to better capture and record its use, which helps us reassure the public it is being used properly.”

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