The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Northamptonshire, Adam Simmonds, has today launched a review to investigate the use of police stop and search powers in the county, in which 64% of stop and searches last year were of children and young adults aged 13-24.

The review will be led by Duwayne Brooks, a friend of the murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence.

Simmonds and his newly appointed Chief Constable have also agreed to strip officers’ right to stop and searcch suspects if they are deemed to have abused their stop and search powers. Eight police officers have already been subject to the full force of this new policy.

The PCC has previously been highlighted as demonstrating innovative practice in relation to policing young people in the Revolving Doors Agency and T2A project ‘First Generation’, which collates and promotes examples of good practice among the first cohort of PCCs, including innovation relating to young adults, mental health, women and BAME people.

A Police Foundation and T2A report, Policing Young Adults, previously found that the two major issues affecting young people in relation to policing were the nighttime economy and stop and search, with the latter being particularly problematic for both effective policing and community relations. In 2014, Baroness Young’s Review highlighted the disproportionate use of stop and search with young BAME men.

At the launch, Simmonds said: “If someone is stopped for no reason or inappropriately then that person is a victim. I want the restorative justice approach for cops. I want a cop to say sorry. This will make the police more accountable and give the public confidence in the police. It’s a good opportunity for cops to step up their game.”

Home secretary, Theresa May, has threatened forces with legislation if they do not stamp out abuses of their search powers.