The number of people stopped and searched in the UK on the basis of counter-terrorism concerns trebled last year, raising fears that the police are misusing their powers.

Officers used powers enshrined in the 2000 Terrorism Act to search 124,687 people, up from 41,924 the previous year. Almost nine out of 10 of the searches were carried out by London’s Metropolitan Police. Only 1 per cent of the people stopped were arrested, and only 73 of those were for alleged terrorism offences.