ACCUSATIONS of structural racism have been levelled against Dyfed-Powys police force this week.

A concerned resident made the accusation after the government published stop-and-search statistics based on ethnicity.

The figures showed Dyfed-Powys was one of the forces across England and Wales which stopped and searched black people the most.

It was revealed that out of one thousand black people in the area, 40 were stopped and searched whereas only five white people - out of 1,000 - were stopped and searched.

The data, taken between April 2018 and March 2019, also revealed that out of a thousand Asian people, only nine of them were stopped and searched.

The vexed resident, who gave her name but didn’t want it published, said: “I grew up in Powys and am ashamed to see that it has one of the highest rates of stop and searches on black people across all counties.

“Forty black people per 1,000 compared with five white people per thousand.

“This very clearly highlights that there is structural racism within Dyfed-Powys Police.”

A force spokesperson explained: “Dyfed-Powys Police is committed to ensuring that everyone who has a reason to come into contact with the force is treated fairly and equally.

“A priority for Dyfed-Powys Police is keeping our communities safe and one operation tool we employ is to stop and search.

“The power to stop and search members of the community is an important one, but only used where there are reasonable grounds to do so.”

The spokesperson said: “Whilst according to the most recent census data (Nomis, 2011), the Dyfed-Powys area has the second lowest black and minority ethnic in England and Wales, we are aware that the population increases by more than 10 million people during the summer months, as tourists visit the area.

“The Powys area is also subject to offences committed by travelling criminals. “Criminals that come into the Powys area to commit crime but do not live there.

“Both these groups are subject to stop and search where there is reasonable grounds but are not counted in our population.  

 During the period in question, 2018/2019, 34 searches were conducted on those of black ethnicity compared with 2,583 searches on those of white ethnicity.

“When population sizes are very small, the rate per 1000 population often appears extremely high.

“When you factor in the population increase for tourism, a data comparison against resident population for the four counties policed by Dyfed-Powys is not an accurate reflection of the policing challenge.”

And the spokesperson added: “Stop and Search is used to prevent crime and identify those who intend to cause harm. There are many restrictions placed on how police use the power of stop and search - these are there as safeguards – to ensure it is used in a fair and effective manner. 

“All searches conducted on those of Black ethnicity are audited to ensure all searches were lawfully and justifiably conducted. Each quarter a comprehensive report is compiled for the Ethical Use of Police Powers Group to scrutinise and objectively evaluate the searches being conducted within the region of Dyfed-Powys Police.

 “Under the Equality Act 2010 the force has adopted 4 equality objectives to ensure that we continue to work to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations. More information can be found on the link www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/en/about-us/our-departments/equality-and-diversity/our-equality-objectives/

The figures showed that London’s Metropolitan Police made almost half of all stop and searches in England and Wales.

South Wales Police stopped 42 black people for every 1,000 compared to just seven white people out of 1,000.

And in North Wales nine black people were stopped out of 1,000 with three white people out of 1,000 being stopped and searched.

Police in Dorset were 25 times more likely to stop back people than white people and in Gwent the rate for Asian people was five times higher than the rate for white people.

Gloucestershire, Cleveland and Greater Manchester had the lowest overall ratings.