POLICE in North Yorkshire have officially adopted a new Government scheme on stopping and searching people in the street.

The voluntary measure was introduced earlier this year to try and reduce the number of stop and search incidents by focusing on more intelligence-led stops.

North Yorkshire Police has now adopted elements of it, including better monitoring of complaints over searches, and restriction of powers that allowed searches without any suspicious circumstances.

Chief Constable Dave Jones said: "I am confident that by signing up to the Home Office’s Best Use of Stop and Search Scheme we can achieve greater transparency and offer a better service to our communities.

"Stop and search powers are a very effective tool which help us to in detect crime, recover stolen property and arrest offenders. However, the use of stop and search must be based on the best intelligence available to us at the time and done in a manner which is as ethical as possible."

More elements from the scheme - which has already been fully adopted by 35 forces - will be put in place by the end of January, including recording outcomes of all stop and searches, and giving members of the public the opportunity to observe stops and searches in practice.