Police will issue people stopped with receipts

The force is one of six across Britain to be asked to give a receipt to each person they stop, as well as recording their skin colour, name and address.

The move follows a 1999 inquiry - prompted by the murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence nearly 10 years ago - which concluded that the Metropolitan Police was "institutionally racist".

Police have to record details of all the people they stop - presently your details are only recorded if you are searched.

Officers will create a record using hand-held computer terminals, and people can decide whether to receive their copy via text, e-mail or in the post.

It is hoped the new system will encourage people from ethnic minorities to have more faith in the police.

The pilot will provide the opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to policing diverse communities fairly Sergeant David Owens

However, a spokeswoman from the North East Wales Race Equality Network said that remains to be seen.

"There have been reports that black people get stopped more often," she said.

"We're very visible and that's one of the problems of living in a rural area.

"I suppose it could increase the number of people from ethnic backgrounds stopped," she added.

Stephen Lawrence, who was 18, was stabbed to death at a bus stop in Eltham, south-east London in April 1993.

Stephen Lawrence was murdered in April 1993

No-one has ever been convicted of his murder.

His parents said they had been denied justice because they and their murdered son were black.

The results of that campaign culminated in the MacPherson inquiry into Stephen's death.

The inquiry found that the Met was "institutionally racist" and forced huge changes in the way the police investigated racist crimes.

Priorities

Sergeant David Owens from North Wales Police said 30 officers from the Eastern division have been selected to participate in the project.

"The pilot will provide the opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to policing diverse communities fairly," he said.

"It will enhance the image of North Wales Police with the resident and transient ethnic minority communities in line with our policing priorities," he added.

Concerns had been raised that officers participating in the scheme would be inundated with extra paperwork.

However, police in the region will put all their information straight onto hand-held computer terminals.

Other police units taking part in the trial are Nottinghamshire, Sussex, West Yorkshire, West Midlands and the Metropolitan force in Hackney.