Yvette Cooper MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, said:

“Stop and search powers and practice need reform. The Government’s proposals are welcome but too limited and need to go further.

"The police need stop and search powers to search those suspected of crime and prevent serious threats. They are particularly important for tackling knife crime.

“However misuse and overuse of the powers has caused serious problems and undermined effective policing. Four years ago the EHRC report detailed inefficient use of the powers and serious problems with racial discrimination. And there is cross party agreement on the need for reform.

"The measures announced by the Home Secretary today are welcome such as the assessment, the review of training by the college of policing and revising the code of practice.

"However the Home Secretary has only introduced a voluntary scheme to require scheme of senior officers authorisation, the law on section 60 isn’t being changed, and the guidance on race discrimination is not being put onto a statutory basis.

“In December the Home Secretary said she wanted to change the law, however advisors said "regressive attitudes” in Number 10 were stopping them. It seems now the Prime Minister has prevented Theresa May making further changes which had clear cross party support.

“The Home Secretary was right and the Prime Minister was wrong. It is very disappointing that David Cameron seems to have ignored the benefits of further sensible reform for good policing, tackling discrimination and building community confidence.“