Newham Monitoring Project (NMP) have launched a campaign to make sure residents know their civil rights during the Olympic Games.

With around 12,000 police officers deployed during peak times, NMP want to make people aware of their rights regarding stop and search procedure.

In a video on their website, poet, writer and patron of the NMP Benjamin Zephaniah gives people all the information they need so they stay clued up during the Olympics.

NMP said: “We aim to ensure that local people are aware of their civil liberties and have a way of seeking redress if they believe their rights have been ignored.

“We are also offering a basic rights information card, legal workshops for youth and community groups and, for the first time, trained Community Legal Observers near event venues.”

To promote their campaign, the NMP ask residents to add their 24 hour emergency helpline number - 0800 169 3111 - to their contacts.

The organisation has been working with the black community suffering racial discrimination or violence, police misconduct and civil rights issues since 1980.

It was created out of local campaigns after the murder of teenager Akhtar Ali Baig in East Ham and provides a service to ensure statutory organisations act fairly and with out discrimination.

If you are interested in volunteering with the NMP during the 2012 Games, either as a Community Legal Observer or to help promote civil liberties, call 020 8470 8333 or visit www.nmp.org.uk.