Police 'Business Cards' To Cut Red Tape

Police stopping members of the public in the street should hand out a business card rather than fill out a lengthy form under measures to be unveiled tomorrow by Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the Chief Inspector of Constabulary.

Scrapping the form filling is among a list of proposals designed to help cut red tape contained in a draft copy of Sir Ronnie's report, which he claims could save up to six million hours a year, equivalent to putting an extra 2,000 to 3,000 officers on frontline duties.

However, the report says a more formal process is still needed when police are conducting a search.

Sir Ronnie, the former PSNI and Royal Ulster Constabulary Chief Constable, carried out an independent review in his capacity as senior policing adviser to the Home Secretary.

He will say in the report that the police service overall is lacking in confidence, accountability and common sense, the BBC has learned.

Lengthy paperwork was introduced after the inquiry into the racist murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence. The forms were meant to monitor whether ethnic minorities were being unfairly targeted and the actions of individual police officers.

The current, so-called "stop and account" form can take officers up to seven minutes to complete.

Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, is expected to respond to the report by promising to publish a green paper on police reform with a view to legislation later this year.

(GC)