Facts

Boris Johnson was being interviewed about his crime plan for England and Wales.

He said: “Section 60 [stop and search] orders can play an important part in fighting crime”

The type of search Mr Johnson is talking about - called a Section 60 - doesn't require police to have "reasonable suspicion" someone has committed a crime, only a belief that a crime "may" take place in the area.

A surge in these searches in parts of London, under a knife crime initiative called Operation Blunt 2, had no effect on police recorded crime compared with boroughs where the searches were not brought in. The report said: “greater use of weapons searches was not effective at the borough level for reducing crime.”

Verdict

Johnson’s claim that Stop and Search can play an important part in fighting crime is unsubstantiated.

We approached Mr Johnson’s office, the Cabinet Office and the No 10 Press Office to give them a chance to comment, but no reply.