The chief inspector of constabulary has published a Review of Policing recommending a review of the stop and search and stop and account processes.
Ronnie Flanagan said removing the need for police to fill in a form, which would be replaced with a receipt and a verbal record, would cut down on bureaucracy.
The Home Office responded by announcing it would be trialling Flanagan's stop and account proposals in three areas, and "streamlining" the stop and search form.
But Trevor Phillips, chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said any lessening of accountability for stop and search could cause problems.
He said it risked a return to the "sus" practices of the 1970s, when large numbers of black and Asian young men were stopped because of their appearance.
"Throwing police into conflict with young men in the streets is a solution that has failed everywhere and every time it has been tried," said Phillips.
"If we really want to be protected, we could start by using the police time more effectively on initiatives like after school sports activities."
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