New Labour mayor David Skaith has raised concerns about the number of children being subjected to stop and search by North Yorkshire Police.

Deputy chief constable Scott Bisset revealed today the force carried out 2,872 stop and search incidents between May 1 last year and April 30 this year, and planned to use the power more often.

They included 636 incidents involving children. Of these, 334 involved 16 and 17-year-olds, 301 were for 11 to 15-year-olds and one incident involved a child aged 10 and under.

Mr Skaith said:

DCC Bisset said North Yorkshire Police had "a very robust approach" that involved checks being carried out by trained officers wearing body worn video. He said:

He added the incident involving a child aged 10 or under took place last August and involved a knife.

The figures also revealed 72% of stop and searches were conducted on people who self-defined as white, whereas the percentage of white people in North Yorkshire is 96%, according to the 2021 census.

However, 20% did not state their ethnicity.

People who define themselves as Asian or Asian British accounted for 3.52% of incidents and comprise 1.95% of the population.

People who define themselves as Black or Black British accounted for 1.32% of incidents and comprise 0.46% of the population.

DCC Bisset said:

The figures were revealed during today's first online public meeting by the York and North Yorkshire Office for Policing, Fire, Crime and Commissioning.

The office replaced the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, which was led by the Conservative Zoë Metcalfe, this month.

Mr Skaith announced this week City of York Labour councillor Jo Coles as his preferred appointee as deputy mayor for police, fire and crime. But her appointment has yet to be ratified.

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