A REPORT into police stop-and-search powers says people should be treated with respect and informed of their rights.

Community leaders spoke on the subject at a meeting to launch a booklet outlining recommendations on ways police can improve the manner in which they use their power to stop and search people.

The Lewisham Community Police Consultative Group's rep-ort makes several suggestions.

These include ensuring there are good grounds for stopping and searching someone and getting young people involved with training and education.

The group is an independent body which acts as a link between the community and the police.

Gordon Glean, the chairman of its stop and search group, said: "It is an important tool for preventing crime but many young people are raising concerns over the behaviour of the officers undertaking it."

Another member of the group, Asquith Gibbes, said: "I have been bashing the police for years over stop-and-search powers.

"It is because we do this the police have improved, but we need to keep bashing them."

Superintendent Ian Mill of Lewisham police said: "We support the findings of the report and have already started putting into place some processes.

"We are developing training right across the borough. We will work with the community.

"Stop and search should be an effective tool to prevent criminality."

Another one of the report's aims is to educate young people and the community of their rights when it comes to stop-and-search powers.

Leaflets are available, but the chairman of the consultative group, David Michael, wants the council to do more to help spread the message, such as by putting up posters.

He said: "We have a positive response from the police.

"At the moment, we are not getting this from the council."

Mr Mill said: "I will make funding available to David to get the information out."

A Lewisham Council spokesman said: "The stop and search report has provided some valuable and insightful research.

"We are considering these findings and are looking for ways ito use this information to best serve the community".

Copies of Stop and Search The Way Forward Conference Report are available at Lewisham libraries.