A LEADING Asian figure has voiced support for controversial police methods.

Mobeen Medhi, chairman of the Islamic Society of Cleveland and the Jamia Mosque, in Middlesbrough, made his comments at a meeting with Councillor Ken Walker, Middlesbrough Borough Council's leader and chairman of Cleveland Police Authority, and other community leaders.

The meeting was organised as part of national talks between police authorities and communities following the death of black teenager Stephen Lawrence, and a subsequent report.

Mr Medhi, who heads Britannia Biscuits, said he and other prominent community leaders believed that "stop and search" operations were justified if they were "fair and just" and carried out in a responsible manner.

He said: "We have no problem with stop and search as long as there is adequate prior training of the police, as this is a very specialist task. It needs a mature and responsible approach if it is to succeed.

We have not heard any complaints in Middlesbrough relating to stop and search, and we feel strongly that law abiding citizens have nothing to fear."

Coun Walker said: "We were heartened by Mr Medhi's comments and support. If stop and search policing is carried out in a legitimate and responsible manner, it can contribute in no small way to cleaning up the streets. All actions of this kind are monitored and recorded, and any stop and search activity is done with the consent of the person concerned."