POLICE chiefs say new measures employed in York and across North Yorkshire to help stamp out accusations of prejudice and racism are a success.

Strict procedures for recording stop and searches are expected to make policing more transparent and to encourage "policing by consent".

New laws prevent officers stopping suspects because of their ethnic origin and revised procedures are creating an open and accurate record of what is happening on the streets. They follow recommendations of the Macpherson Inquiry, into the murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence, which highlighted "institutional racism" in London's police force and criticised its race relations.

North Yorkshire Police figures reveal that 54 individuals, who describe themselves as from an ethnic group, have been stopped since April, compared with 1,729 white people. Superintendent Alison Higgins, York and Selby area operations commander, welcomed the revised procedures, which she said would help build trust between the police and the community.

She said: "These new measures are a form of protection for our officers as well as the community because if we do not put in the right reports, how can we defend our powers?"

She said North Yorkshire has a very low proportion of residents from minority ethnic groups, but the force was pro-actively reaching out to those communities.

PC John Bolton, who trains York police officers on stop and search practises, said the new records have created a "better, tighter, stronger system".

He said: "It is very important that officers exercise their powers appropriately and whenever they can because they are for the protection of the community."

Know your rights:

A police officer may stop and search anyone or any vehicle in any public place if he has reasonable grounds to suspect that stolen or prohibited articles will be found.

The search can only be to the extent required to look for the item the person is suspected of carrying. In a public place only outer clothing may be removed.

A record must be made of all stop and searches and a copy of this must be given to the person stopped. This information will be monitored and analysed.

Updated: 11:03 Friday, December 12, 2003