The New York Police Department say that they need to be able to stop and frisk (search) people who they think are looking suspicious to prevent crimes from being committed.

However, the protestors say that stopping 'innocent' people in the street and searching them abuses their civil rights. They also say that it is racist; according to the New York Civil Liberties Union 54% of people being stopped were black, 31% were Latino and 9% were white.

During the first nine months of 2011 514,461 people were stopped by the NYPD. Most of these people - 88% - were innocent.

Should the police be allowed to stop and frisk people? Vote on our poll at www.firstnews.co.uk/polls to tell us what YOU think!