Police investigations into gang murders in Nottingham are being hampered by the use of Section 60 stop-and-search powers, which are damaging links with young people, according to a local youth worker.

The concerns have been raised by Seean Maxwell, a manager of the Chase Neighbourhood Centre's youth inclusion project in the city's deprived St Ann's area, where two teenagers have been killed in recent months.

Maxwell cites the example of the high-profile shooting of 14-year-old Danielle Beccan last October (YPN, 20-26 October, p9) and the stabbing in January of an 18-year-old boy - both of which were immediately followed by police "flooding" the neighbourhood to stop and search young people.

"When Danielle died, lots of young people were upset and the police response was to go and harass them," he said. "Every young person feels threatened. It's broken down trust between the police and young people."

A spokesman for Nottinghamshire Police said: "I can understand that young people may feel it's rather alienating or insensitive. But we use Section 60 orders for a purpose and they do prove their usefulness."