SUSPECTS stopped and searched by Lancashire Constabulary were found to be carrying nothing of interest in over two thirds of cases last year.

The finding comes as the use of stop and search has decreased, with 23% fewer cases reported last year.

The policy has been in the spotlight recently, with growing concern over knife and drug offences.

Home Office figures show that stop and search powers were used 3,043 times by the force last year, a decrease of 23% on 2016. Just 16% of searches led to an arrest or a summons to court, and in 68% of cases suspects were found to be carrying nothing of interest.

In the majority of incidents, 54%, people were searched on suspicion of drug possession. Of those suspects, 14% were arrested or summonsed to court and 1% were given drugs possession warnings.

Suspicion of carrying offensive weapons, such as knives, accounted for 456 searches in 2017, with 21% leading to an arrest or court summons. A further 47 suspects were searched for firearms, with five arrested or charged.

Other potential outcomes from stop and search include the suspect being given a police warning, the issue being resolved on the spot, or, most often, no further action being taken.

Earlier this month, the shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that stop and search had been ineffective in combatting violent crime.

She said: "The truth is, when stop and search was at full throttle, the main thing they found were small quantities of drugs.

"Evidence-based stop and search will always be an important weapon against all types of crime. But random stop and search has poisoned relationships between the police and the community, and in the end we need the cooperation of the community

to deal with the issues."

A spokesman for the Home Office said: "We have been clear that stop and search is a vital policing tool, and officers will always have the Government's full support to use these powers properly."

Across England and Wales, 38 forces reported details of their stop and search incidents for the whole of 2016 and 2017.

Among them, there were 17% fewer stop and searches in 2017.

The figures also showed the extent to which black people are disproportionately likely to be the subject of stop and searches. Officers identified suspects as black in one in four cases, despite black people making up just 3% of the population

in England and Wales in the 2011 Census.

A police spokesman said: "Stop and search is a useful police power and we do all we can to ensure that our use of that power is consistent, fair and effective.

"Lancashire Constabulary has a culture among officers and staff of treating people with respect and courtesy in all interactions, including stop and search, and we train all staff to use stop and search fairly and appropriately.

"We continue to use both internal and external scrutiny, including our ride along scheme, of our use of stop and search to ensure its use is fair and appropriate."