Stop-and-search powers are a key weapon in the fight against crime and disorder

Home Office spokesman

The government has confirmed it will not be taking up the suggestions made in the report, which was written by former Home Office analyst Peter Jordan.

A Home Office spokesman said: "As the Stephen Lawrence report made clear, stop-and-search powers are a key weapon in the fight against crime and disorder on our streets.

"The government is committed to ensuring that the powers are used fairly and effectively in the interests of the community they serve," he added.

The spokesman also said the report will not be discussed at a seminar on the use of stop-and-search powers on Wednesday.

'Useful tactic'

Hosted by Home Office minister Charles Clarke, the seminar will be attended by police, the Lawrence Steering Group and representatives of ethnic communities.

The Home Office spokesman said: "We have commissioned a comprehensive programme of research on the use of stop-and-search, which will inform debate at the seminar."

The aim would be to "develop proposals to ensure the powers are used fairly and effectively", added the spokesman.

We constantly keep our own performance under review

Association of Chief Police Officers

A spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers said: "Stop-and-search is a useful tactic in fighting crime and of great value to us.

"We are aware that there are sometimes concerns over how it is employed and that is why we constantly keep our own performance under review," he added.

No-one from the Police Foundation - at the centre of a major row earlier this year when it said that prison terms for users of drugs including Ecstasy should be scrapped - was available for comment on Sunday.

A spokeswoman for St James's Palace said Prince Charles had not been involved in the foundation's report.