A MASSIVE increase in the number of recorded racist incidents has been hailed as a positive sign by the Lancashire police authority.

The 33 per cent rise is seen as demonstrating increasing public confidence in the police, encouraging victims to report racist incidents in the knowledge that something will be done about them.

Lancashire police recorded 917 racist incidents between April 1999 and March 2000. This year the figure is 1,274 -- an increase of 357.

A report to the Lancashire Police Authority Performance Review and Audit Committee describes the increase as 'significant' and says it is expected to continue.

"This is seen as a positive outcome, demonstrating an increase in public confidence to report such incidents," says the report. "The constabulary has and will continue to publicise this pro-active approach as well as further developing its close community contacts and partnerships."

The provision of self-reporting forms, third-party reporting venues and Internet reporting are all now complete and the level of information is expected to continue to increase.

Lancashire Constabulary has 52 ethnic minority officers, 12 of whom were recruited in the last year. Two more officers are awaiting posting and a further 50 are in the recruitment process

As partners to the Lancashire Council of Mosques, the force has been awarded £170,000 to be used to increase recruitment from ethnic groups.

The report also reveals that the levels of stop and searches of white and ethnic minority people have equalled out.