The use of stop and search shot up in Bolton and across Greater Manchester in the last year according to statistics from Greater Manchester Police (GMP).

There were more than 46,600 uses of stop and search across the region between May last year and May this year in an increase of more than 44 per cent.

According to a report to the Greater Manchester Police, Fire and Crime Panel, which was in the city centre this week, the increase for GMP is a lot more than the increase for forces in England and Wales.

In Bolton there were more than 3,200 uses of stop and search, third among all of the 10 boroughs, but this is in line with its position in terms of population where it is also third among all of the 10 boroughs.

In the last six months 16.2 per cent of stop and searches resulted in an arrest in the borough. This is the highest in Greater Manchester where 12.2 per cent of stop and searches resulted in an arrest on average.

The black community is over-represented in the statistics with a black person almost three times more likely to be stopped and searched than a white person. This is above the average for Greater Manchester (around two and a half times more likely) but below the average for England and Wales (around four times more likely).

(Image: GMP)

Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods spoke to the Greater Manchester Police Fire and Crime Panel about the statistics which are under "significant scrutiny".

DCC Woods, the deputy to chief constable Stephen Watson, said: "If we were proportionate, we would stop and search 50 per cent women and a lot more old people. They do not figure in the figures. The use of stop-search is not proportionate. It is delivered in certain areas to deal with certain issues."

Kate Green, the deputy mayor of Greater Manchester, said: "Despite a significant increase in stop and search over the last two years there is not a significant increase in disproportionality. In fact it's fallen."

Under the 1984 Police and Criminal Evidence Act the police have the power to stop and search a person if there is "reasonable suspicion" they are in possession of illegal items. Under the 1994 Public Order Act the police have the power to stop and search a person without "reasonable suspicion" they are in possession of illegal items as long as there is a Section 60 Order in place.

For information on stop and search and your rights and responsibilities go to gmp.police.uk/stopandsearch.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.