In an interview with the Independent, the constitutional affairs secretary has said police forces are disproportionately using stop-and-search powers against black and Asian communities.

Lord Falconer said the disparity in stops-and-searches between different groups "is much too high to be explained simply by different conditions in different places".

He also revealed that the sanctity of the jury room could be reformed in order to allow investigations into allegations of misbehaviour by jurors.