The editor of Britain's leading black newspaper, The Voice, has called for an increase in police stop and search tactics to combat rising gun crime.

Trevor Phillips, deputy chair of the London Assembly, believes the call emphasises the growing concern over violent crime.

But leading anti-discrimination campaigner Karen Chouhan says stop and search is part of a racist criminalisation of black communities.

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Trevor Phillips

The Voice's editor is probably right to make this dramatic gesture. But we need to be clear about what it means.

Post Macpherson, the police claim that they have been disinclined to use the power to stop and search for fear of being accused of racism.

If renewed use of the power will stop these oh-so-sensitive souls bleating about their hurt feelings, then Mike Best has done the right thing.

Trevor Phillips: Searches won't prevent shootings

Perhaps then we can focus on the real problems, instead of being dogged by a pointless argument about police morale.

There are other positives here. By performing what sounds like a dramatic u-turn, the Voice may corner the small minority in our community who want to belittle the threat posed by black criminals.

More importantly, it emphasises that the mainstream of the black community is deeply concerned about the spate of arbitrary and violent crime which is disfiguring our cities - and , by the way, bearing down more heavily on us than on anyone else.

However, no-one should kid themselves that it will prevent a single shooting. Contract killers do not saunter down the street carrying their semi-automatics in a convenient back pocket.

And though it may frighten some kids, stop and search will not prevent teenagers being backed into an alley and having their mobile phones extracted.

Karen Chouhan (Director of 1990 Trust)

Focus on gun crime may obscure other problems

But that doesn't mean that the case is proven.

In fact, the policy of stop and search is really not supported by the number of arrests that follow from it - only about 5%.

The harm to communities and the amount of negative publicity generated by stop and search outweighs its benefits.

Police should put more time and powers into investigating burglary from homes and racist attacks which are of prime concern in black communities.

We need much more attention to the fact that black people are disproportionately victims of crime rather than perpetrators.

I am a bit puzzled by Mike Best's comments. Perhaps he is suggesting that if we as the black community are calling for more powers it looks as if we are being more responsible citizens.

But we should not pander to that or the continued racist criminalisation of black communities.

Over the years as we have tried to be good citizens, the only response that we have had is that we should go to citizenship classes.

Once again it seems as though the home secretary has allowed the agenda to be one of blaming the ethnic minorities for the wrongs of society rather than racism itself.