According to a story in today's Guardian, the police equalities watchdog has raised concerns over police use of stop and search powers in light of evidence that some forces are disproportionately targeting people from ethnic minorities. We know that nationally young black people account for less than 3% of the 10-17 population but 8.5% of stop and searches - as the Guardian story highlights, the picture in London is significantly worse, with research published by the Home Affairs Committee in 2007 showing that young black people account for 15% of the 10-17 population, but 37% of stop and searches.

This comes in the same week that Parliamentary stats have shown that the proportion of black and minority ethnic children in custody is increasing despite attempts to address the issue. Conservative shadow minister David Burrowes called the stats evidence of "a system that is failing young people and communities", though he stopped short of setting out what action he would take to tackle the issue if he had the chance. Meanwhile a government spokesman reiterated their commitment to combating unjustified disproportionality. With an election looming will these concerns make it into concrete proposals for action in either party's manifesto? We'll keep you posted.

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