What do you think of Stop and Search?

Police and Crime Commissioner Shaun Wright said: “Stop and Search is an important tool in the armoury of the police to combat crime and to catch offenders.

“But for years there have been concerns up and down the country about whether police forces use the powers appropriately, proportionately and fairly.

“The number of people from the black and ethnic minority community who are stopped and searched by the police has consistently outnumbered those from the white communities for many years.

“While the gap has been closing in recent years in South Yorkshire, the levels of disproportionality remain a concern and it is one that I share.

“I want to understand how people feel, to hear from those who have been stopped and searched about their experiences and whether they felt they were treated fairly.”

Results from the consultation exercise — which will finish on September 17 — will be discussed by the commissioner with Chief Constable David Crompton.

The results will also be sent to the Home Office which will review and potentially revise how police forces nationwide use the powers in the future in the light of the findings.

To take part in the consultation, people should log on to the PCC’s website at www.southyorkshire-pcc.gov.uk, where a short video containing a link to the survey can be watched.