SDLP councillor Paul McCusker has said the PSNI needs to "build positive relationships" with young people rather than make them feel they are being "targeted unfairly".
The councillor's comments came after a Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey (NILT) found young people from urban, less well-off backgrounds are experiencing proportionately more 'stop and search' by PSNI officers.
It found that in the ten years from 2005 until 2015 instances of stop and search increased by more than 74 per cent.
There have been 28,000 instances of stop and search of under 18s in the last six years with 15-17 year old males the most likely group to be stopped by officers using the powers.
It also found that children from a Catholic/nationalist background were more likely to be stopped, with 37 per cent of 16 year-olds from both traditions saying they felt the PSNI treat young people from less affluent backgrounds unfairly.
Mr McCusker said: "PSNI Officers need to be aware of the stereotypes they are reinforcing in the minds of young people when they are carrying out this practice. "
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon said: "We are very concerned that the survey findings call into question whether police are giving young people the information they deserve on why they are being stopped. We are also concerned that young, urban males are being disproportionately affected. This makes for a worrying picture."
