Police 'to ask religion of people they search'

People stopped and searched by police could be asked to disclose their religion under plans being considered by the Government.

The proposal, revealed by the Evening Standard today, is intended to address concerns that Muslims are unfairly targeted under anti-terror laws.

Recording the faith of everyone searched would let the Home Office monitor whether police are being even-handed.

But rank-and-file police officers claimed it would add to paperwork and spark confrontations.

The plan, in a report by Met Commissioner Sir Ian Blair to the Met Police Authority, emerges a day after Home Secretary Charles Clarke told the Police Federation annual conference he would cut red tape.

A Federation spokesman said: "He seems to be giving with one hand and taking away with the other. When someone is stopped, they are usually not best pleased. Asking this question could inflame the situation."

Muslim leaders warned that the move could prove counterproductive if officers used the information to identify and search Muslims.

Iqbal Sacranie, secretarygeneral of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: "The last thing we want is when an officer questions somebody as to their faith, that that should be an indicator of what action the officer should take."