Nearly 1,500 children were stopped and searched by Sussex Police last year.

In Sussex, 1,446 stop and searches took place on children under 18 years old in the year to March 2023 - accounting for 27 per cent of searches on all people.

Figures from the Home Office showed that one of the children was below ten years old, however Sussex Police said this was an administrative error and the child was actually aged 17.

Akiko Hart, interim director at human rights organisation Liberty, said the numbers were "particularly concerning".

"We heard in the Casey review how police officers are 'rude or uncivil' and use 'excessive force' on children during searches, leaving them scared and humiliated," she said.

READ MORE: Sussex Police stop nine times as many black people than white

Earlier this year, the Casey review into misconduct in the Met Police called for an action plan on reforming stop and search practices, including strip searches of children.

Responding to the figures, Sussex Police said: “The force continues to review and study how officers use stop and search powers and the impact this has on young people.

“These powers can also be used as an effective tool to tackle child criminal exploitation, helping us to identify young people who may be at risk and to work with partners to provide support.”