New Forest MP stopped and searched by police says: we need more officers

POLICE stopped and searched New Forest West MP Sir Desmond Swayne outside parliament, he told the Commons.

The Conservative MP revealed the incident in a debate about proposals for greater use of the controversial powers – which he called to be deployed more widely but backed by more officers.

Sir Desmond said: “It may have been intelligence-led when I was recently stopped and searched outside 1 Parliament Street, but I do not complain – I want to see more use of it made.

“But that does imply more police officers to do it, does it not?”

Stop and search powers are being looked at by home secretary Sajid Javid to help tackle the reported rise in knife crime, particularly in London.

Home Office minister Nick Hurd made light of Sir Desmond’s encounter with the law, saying: “I cannot comment on what intelligence the police had that led them to that decision – obviously they got the memo!”

He added: “My right honourable friend’s main point is right, and I have made it clear from the dispatch box that, as we approach the end of austerity, this government is determined to make sure that our police system has the resources needed.

“That is why we took the steps last year that have resulted in an additional £460m of public investment in our police system and almost every police force in the country recruiting again.”

In Hampshire, frontline police officer numbers have fallen as government funding has dropped, shrinking from 3,748 in 2010 to 2,896 in 2017.