A THIRD more Asians were stopped and searched by Lancashire police last year in the wake of the Burnley riots.

The figure was revealed as the total number of people targeted in Lancashire dropped by almost a half in the last three years.

As ethnic minority groups expressed concern that across England and Wales black people are eight times more likely to be stopped and searched by police, the county constabulary defended its policy as fair to all groups.

In 1999/2000, 27,530 instances of stop and search took place -- 25,929 of these involved white people, 287 black people and 1,064 Asians.

In 2000/2001 the total figure had dropped to 18,806 of which 17,825 were white, 201 black, and 630 Asian.

In 2001/2002 the figure had dropped again to 14,175 of which 13,005 were white, 162 black, 114 from other ethnic groups. But the figure for Asians rose from 630 to 894 -- more than one third.

A police spokesman said: "We believe that the number of stops and searches is a fair reflection of the make-up of the community. They are intelligence led and nothing to do with the colour of people's skin.

"We take racial equality very seriously."

Mr Pike said: "I think that the increase in Asians being stopped and searched is an understandable response to the disturbances in Burnley. The police reacted excellently to this and I believe without the way they behaved the problems could have been worse.

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope said: "I had no complaints about this and I believe the police use these powers wisely."