ANYONE stopped by police in Wyre Forest will now be entitled to a copy of details recorded by the officer or community support officer.

New national guidelines give members of the public the right to see why they were stopped and the outcome.

The right applies whenever someone is asked to explain why they are in possession of something, their actions, behaviour or their presence in a particular area.

A paper record will be handed to them immediately after they have been stopped.

Insp John Morgan, of West Mercia Constabulary's North Worcestershire Division, said: "Stopping people and asking them to account for themselves or their behaviour is a valuable way of preventing and detecting crime.

"However, no-one should be stopped on personal factors alone, such as age, ethnicity or physical appearance.

"These new recording procedures will enable us to demonstrate to our communities that we are open, fair and honest about our stops practice."

The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report in 1999 highlighted that stop and search prompted numerous complaints and was a critical issue in police earning the trust and confidence of the public.

It proposed that police officers should make a record of all stops, as well as searches.