Police officers: Facing more red tape?

Michael Howard has attacked new rules requiring police officers to fill in a form every time they stop someone.

During prime minister's question time the Conservative leader called on Tony Blair to withdraw the system he condemns as part of a "politically correct culture".

"Can the prime minister tell the House how much of a police officers' time is going to be wasted on this latest piece of political correctness?" he asked.

Blair told MPs that the measure had been introduced as a result of the Lawrence inquiry to ensure that communities across London have confidence in the police.

Howard dismissed the prime minister's remarks, saying it would take an officer "the best part of an hour" to fill in forms after stopping a gang of youths in the street.

"The prime minister told the country in his manifesto that he would relieve the police of unnecessary bureaucratic burdens. Is this what he meant?" said Howard.

"Shouldn't the police be doing their jobs, not filling in forms? We've said we'd scrap this piece of politically correct nonsense. Why won't he?"

Hitting back, Blair said: "Crime in London is down, police numbers are up" in contrast to the performance of the government during Howard's tenure as home secretary.

"As a result of this government introducing dispersal orders and others measures on anti-social behaviour we are actually able to take action against gangs of yobs in the street for the first time," he said.