POLICE forces have made "disappointingly slow progress" in improving their use of stop and search powers, a report has said.

The report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) says that police forces in England and Wales must record the stops they carry out on motorists.

The recommendation was made against a background of concerns that black and minority ethnic drivers are disproportionately affected.

Stephen Otter, The inspector who led the research said: “Too many police leaders and officers still don’t seem to understand the impact that the use of powers to stop and search people can have on the lives of many people, especially young people and those who are from black and minority ethnic backgrounds. This is disappointing because getting it wrong can lead to resentment, anger and, in time, a loss of trust in the police.

“When we examined the way the police conducted traffic stops, we found no official record keeping and very little interest in how effectively and fairly these stops are being carried out, despite the disproportionate impact this power has on black and minority ethnic people. "