Statistics about police stop and search of ethnic minorities have been released under Freedom of Information.

The figures were released by the island’s police force on the day that 1,500 people took part in the Black Lives Matter demonstration in Douglas.

A total of 1,253 stop searches were carried out by the Manx constabulary last year, up from 637 in 2016, 871 in 2017 and 1,033 in 2018.

So far this year there have been 383 stop and searches.

A very small percentage of these were carried out on those classed as being in the ’black and minority ethic’ (BME) category, which covers ’Afro-Caribbean, Asian, Oriental and Arab’, according to the FoI response.

This year, of the 383 stop and searches carried out up to June 4, 186 were on non-BME suspects, eight on those described as BME and 189 listed as ’unknown’.

Last year, of the 1,253 stop searches, 513 were on non-BME individuals, 20 on those in the BME ethnic group and 720 listed as ’unknown’.

Data was also released on the type of property seized, again broken down by ethnic group.

Last year, stolen property or prohibited items such as drugs or weapons were found in 142 out of the 513 stop searches of non-BME suspects and in six out of 20 stop searches of those classed as BME. Of the 720 stop and searches carried out last year on those of an unknown ethnic group, stolen property or prohibited items were found in 152 cases.

In a separate FoI response the Constabulary said it didn’t have documents available on how many or what percentage of the force are non-white officers.

The police was also asked about diversity training.

It replied that the Constabulary has a long established relationship with an inclusion group which has delivered scrutiny, workshops and elements of diversity awareness.

Diversity and equality training has in the past been delivered in line with UK police forces by an external agency but a package is now provided by local police trainers.

The force said: ’Recruits to the Constabulary are recruited with elements of diversity and equality.

’This is done through a values and behaviours approach to recruitment. The values sought are ones of respect, responsibility, professionalism, challenge, caring, service and responsibility.

’This is slightly different to the UK method of recruitment and delivers staff who are already highly aware of diversity and equality issues. Staff have deep-rooted positive attitudes and beliefs in line with any diversity training.’

The Constabulary said that in 2019 all staff members undertook an e-learning module on equality and diversity.