The aim is to make officers more accountable

Details including race, names, addresses and why people were stopped will be taken in Hackney, east London, Merseyside, Nottinghamshire, Sussex, West Yorkshire, North Wales and the West Midlands.

Copies of the receipt will be given to those stopped and the records will be used to see whether police are stopping a disproportionate number of black and Asian people.

It is hoped the six-month trial, which begins on Tuesday, will make police more accountable.

The idea was first suggested in Recommendation 61 of the independent report into the inquiry covering the racist murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence.

Currently records are only kept of people who are stopped and searched.

Official definition of police stop "When an officer requests a person in a public place to account for themselves - their actions, behaviour, presence in an area or possession of anything"

Figures published last November showed that black people were eight times more likely to be stopped and searched by police than white people, and Asians were three times more likely.

Home Office ministers hope making a record of those who are stopped will increase public confidence in the police.

But some fear the trial scheme will mean more paperwork and people will resent being asked for their personal details.

Glen Smyth of the Metropolitan Police Federation said: "What it aims to achieve is laudable but I fear it will actually worsen relations with the community."

He added: "It's bureaucracy for bureaucracy's sake and it will undoubtedly increase their overall paperwork levels."

A Scotland Yard spokesman said the Home Office was looking at how best to streamline the procedure and they will be monitoring the amount of paperwork generated during the six-month trial.

Recommendation 61 could be in force across London by September 2004.