A UNION today criticised moves that will create more paperwork for police officers who stop people in the street in the Ipswich area.A pilot scheme is being introduced from January 4 that will require officers to complete a document every time they stop someone in the street.

A UNION today criticised moves that will create more paperwork for police officers who stop people in the street in the Ipswich area.

A pilot scheme is being introduced from January 4 that will require officers to complete a document every time they stop someone in the street.

The approach will be replicated across the country in the wake of recommendations made as part of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry.

It is designed to produce exact figures relating to the number of people from different ethnic origins asked to account for themselves.

Currently, a form is only filled in when people are stopped and searched.

Inspector Tristan Pepper, project manager, said: "The key to increasing community trust and confidence is in how we deal with people in the street.

"When we treat people with respect, give them the information they want, are fair, open and honest, we make a positive contribution to raising confidence in the police overall."

However, the move has caused concern among some police officers, who fear it may tie up more of their time.

Liz Pettman, chairwoman of Suffolk Police Federation, said: "From our point of view, it's more paperwork our members have to complete.

"Although we understand why officers are being asked to do it, it's more bureaucracy.

"We have a government who say they're committed to cutting bureaucracy, but at the same time they're introducing more and more."

Do police do too much paperwork? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk