Dorset's Police and Crime Commissioner has called for clarity from the Government over stop and search powers.

The county has been named the place where black people are most likely to be the subject of police stop and search – which resulted in an investigation into the Dorset statistics earlier this year.

Martyn Underhill told Dorset councillors on Tuesday that in three years, three Home Secretaries had issued different guidance on the use of the controversial power.

His plea came as South Dorset MP, Richard Drax, was questioning the Police Minister in the House of Commons on the latest guidelines.

During the debate the MP called for more bobbies on the beat, “to get the intelligence that we need to make stop and search far more effective.”

After controversial use of these powers in the past, police must now have ‘reasonable grounds for suspicion’ before a routine stop and search is carried out.

“The Minister spoke of evidence that police had lost confidence in using stop and search as a tool, said Mr Drax.

“Having served on three operational tours in Northern Ireland, I can tell the Minister that stop and search was an effective weapon against the terrorist. It was so effective because we had soldiers on the street picking up intelligence, so that when patrols went out they knew exactly who was doing what. I support the request by my right hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Sir Mike Penning) for more bobbies on the beat, to get the intelligence that we need to make stop and search far more effective….

“We must urgently tackle this spike in violent crime.”

“Nothing can replace an officer on the beat with an ear to the ground. I am glad to hear there will be more of them and that they will be supported in carrying out their duties.”

In Dorchester Mr Underhill said officers were, understandably, confused about what they should, or should not, be doing because of what he described as a lack of guidance from the Government: “We have had three different messages, from three different Home Secretaries, in three years. It’s an absolute farce,” Mr Underhill told the Dorset police and crime panel.

He said he welcomed the latest guidance and suggestions: “ knife crime has gone through the roof because some officers are scared of being criticised for using stop and search,” he said.

Cllr Don Smith said he had been stopped and searched about twenty times in the past year – on the way to football matches.

“I believe the large majority of members of the public don’t mind about stop and search because they know it protects the public.”

Mr Underhill said that the results of the review into the county’s stop and search figures would go before a special panel with its findings resulting in a review of policy.