Black people in Sussex were more than eight times as likely to be stopped and searched by police than white people last year, new figures show.

Home Office data on the rates of stop and searches by race found the equivalent of nearly 30 black people in every 1,000 living in the area were involved in the controversial operations in a 12-month period compared with three in every 1,000 white people.

A human rights organisation has called the practice “traumatising and distressing”. Sussex Police say stop and search powers “play an important role” in tackling crime but that they are “actively addressing” issues.

New figures for the 12 months to March show that in Sussex 616 stop and search operations were carried out on black people – equivalent to 28.8 per 1,000 in the area.

In comparison, 3.4 per 1,000 white people were subjected to stop and search operations in the same period.

Ruth Ehrlich, head of policy at campaign at human rights group Liberty, said: “Stop and search is traumatic and distressing – and something that black people are far more likely to experience. Just because this disproportionality is not new does not mean we should fail to be appalled by it.

“For years, previous governments have failed communities by stripping away the support that they need and used racist and violent policing tools to try and paper over the cracks.

“We need the new government to take urgent action to reduce the use of stop and search and for greater investment to tackle these serious issues.”

Nationally, black people are five times more likely to be subject to stop and search operations than white people.

Similarly, nearly 16 per cent of stop and search operations involving black people in England and Wales resulted in an arrest compared with 14 per cent of operations involving white people.

Home Office data also showed that over a quarter of stop and search operations in Sussex in the 12 months to March involved children.

A spokeswoman for Sussex Police said: “Sussex Police recognises disparities impacting global majority groups and is actively addressing these issues as part of its commitment to becoming an anti-racist organisation and its active support of the national Race Action Plan.

“We deliver mandatory training to officers around the use of stop and search powers, which includes guidance on disproportionality and engaging with global majority communities.

“Stop and search powers play an important role in helping police tackle crime and keep people safe, however it is vital that these powers are used appropriately and with the right safeguards in place.

“Searches are regularly reviewed by an external scrutiny panel made up of independent members of the community, to ensure they comply with relevant legislation and to identify any disproportionality or learning.”

A Home Office spokesman said: “Stop and search is an important tool in tackling crime but it’s crucial for public confidence in the police that it is used in an appropriate and fair way.

“Certain groups have been disproportionately targeted for stop and search and while this has been significantly reduced, there is more work to do and the Home Secretary will play a more active role in raising standards across policing.

“Ultimately, prevention remains the most effective tool for tackling crime which is why our ambitious Young Futures Programme will support those at risk of getting involved in crime and work with them towards a brighter future.”