Sir – I am writing with regard to inaccuracies in your front page article of January 6 about Thames Valley Police’s use of stop and search powers.

You state that the EHRC examined the force’s figures on the use of stop and search between February 2009 and April 2010. In fact, in its letter to me on November 29, 2010, which you have seen, the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) clearly states that it is using data from 2007/8.

Also of concern is your assertion that there is a contradiction between what I wrote in my message to officers on December 3 and statements given to you by Thames Valley Police and the Police Federation. This simply is not the case.

I acknowledge that there has been disproportionality in the use of stop and search, but this does not necessarily mean there has been discrimination.

The EHRC is not required to have evidence that there has been discrimination; rather it has taken a view based on the disproportionality data.

Furthermore, nowhere in my message to officers, which you quote in your articles, do I say that officers have used stop and search powers in a discriminatory way.

If you felt there were discrepancies in the information you received, we would have expected you to take the opportunity to clarify the matter before publication.

This is an issue that Thames Valley Police takes very seriously and, regardless of any agreement with the EHRC, will press ahead with a range of measures to ensure a proportionate and lawful use of this important power.

Sara Thornton, Chief Constable, Thames Valley Police