Government want new stop and search laws

[31st January 2008]

Gordon Brown intends to give police the power to stop and search people, without having to fill out the lengthy forms they curently use.

At the moment, officers have to fill out a 'stop and account' form when they stop someone, which have been branded as a waste of police time.

'The Flanagan report' will be published next Monday 4th February, which will outline the government's plans on the subject.

Campaigners have expressed concerns that these new laws may encourage 'police racism'. Government figures suggest that black people are six times more likely to be stopped and searched than white people, while Asians are twice as likely.

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