Hampshire police chiefs have enforced a nationwide programme improving stop and search techniques.

Stop and search is a controversial tool, with claims that police waste time by targeting innocent people – damaging the force’s relationship with the public.

Now Hampshire Constabulary has signed up to the Government’s Best Use of Stop and Search scheme.

The voluntary initiative is designed to create a significant reduction in overall use of stop and search, improve intelligence and raise the stop-to-arrest ratios.

It will also provide the public with further information on the outcome of searches.

The force will adopt the measures by October.