Stop and search is controversial but Suella Braverman wants the powers to be expanded (Picture: Getty/PA)

The Home Secretary has called for all police forces in England and Wales to ‘ramp up’ their use of stop and search powers.

Suella Braverman, in a letter to all 43 forces, says she wants officers to increase their use of the controversial powers ‘to prevent violence and save more lives’.

She said officers who use the powers have her ‘full support’, and singled out ‘young black males’ who she says are ‘disproportionately affected’ by knife crime.

Ms Braverman said: ‘Carrying weapons is a scourge on our society, and anyone doing so is risking their own lives as well as the lives of those around them.

‘This dangerous culture must be brought to a stop.

‘My first priority is to keep the public safe, and people who insist on carrying a weapon must know that there will be consequences.

‘The police have my full support to ramp up the use of stop and search, wherever necessary, to prevent violence and save more lives.

‘Every death from knife crime is a tragedy.

‘That’s why I also back the police in tackling this blight in communities which are disproportionately affected, such as among young black males.

‘We need to do everything in our power to crack down on this violence.’

Critics of stop and search say it disproportionately tackles black and ethnic minority communities – figures suggest black people are seven times more likely to be stopped and searched than white people.

Campaign groups have previously warned relaxing restrictions on police use of the power could compound discrimination.

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‘Carrying weapons is a scourge on our society, and anyone doing so is risking their own lives as well as the lives of those around them.’