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| Consensual stop-and-searches by police should end, says Scott Report | Consensual stop-and-searches by police should end, says Scott Report |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The non-statutory stop-and-searches of adults and children should be stopped by Police Scotland, a report has recommended. | The non-statutory stop-and-searches of adults and children should be stopped by Police Scotland, a report has recommended. |
| The Scottish government asked Solicitor Advocate John Scott to examine the controversial practice. | The Scottish government asked Solicitor Advocate John Scott to examine the controversial practice. |
| The probe came after a BBC Scotland investigation found that children under 12 were being searched, despite a police promise that they would not be. | The probe came after a BBC Scotland investigation found that children under 12 were being searched, despite a police promise that they would not be. |
| Justice Secretary Michael Matheson is due to respond to the report later. | Justice Secretary Michael Matheson is due to respond to the report later. |
| First Minister Nicola Sturgeon requested the independent investigation at the beginning of the summer. | First Minister Nicola Sturgeon requested the independent investigation at the beginning of the summer. |
| The report made key recommendations, which included: | The report made key recommendations, which included: |
| Mr Scott said in his report: "If non-statutory stop-and-search is ended, officers of Police Scotland will still be able to carry out their duties effectively. | Mr Scott said in his report: "If non-statutory stop-and-search is ended, officers of Police Scotland will still be able to carry out their duties effectively. |
| "Abolition will not result in any significant gaps. | "Abolition will not result in any significant gaps. |
| "Specifically, officers will still be able to respond to any welfare or protection issues they encounter. | "Specifically, officers will still be able to respond to any welfare or protection issues they encounter. |
| "Action will still be possible even when required on an emergency basis, whether carried out by police officers, social workers, medical staff or others." | "Action will still be possible even when required on an emergency basis, whether carried out by police officers, social workers, medical staff or others." |
| ANALYSIS | |
| By Marc Ellison, BBC Scotland data journalist | |
| On the day the Scott Report is published, Police Scotland released the latest quarterly data in not one, but two spreadsheets. | |
| So, what did they tell us? | |
| What is more interesting is the fact that Police Scotland released a separate, second spreadsheet for the month of June. This data has been extracted from "an enhanced national database was rolled out across Scotland on 1 June 2015 together with changes to operational practice and recording procedures." | |
| The enhanced database apparently includes additional validations designed to improve the quality of the data by preventing inaccurate data capture through "input error". | |
| The fact that this data has been released separately serves to draw a line under how the force has recorded the use of this controversial tactic. | |
| The Scott Report also found that officers had been required to meet targets on consensual stop-and-searches. | |
| It said: "It seems clear that the use of targets, or KPIs, featuring stop and search, led to a proliferation in the use of the tactic, both before and following the establishment of Police Scotland. | It said: "It seems clear that the use of targets, or KPIs, featuring stop and search, led to a proliferation in the use of the tactic, both before and following the establishment of Police Scotland. |
| "Even some police sources have conceded that the extent of use of the tactic took it beyond any available intelligence and best use of officer hours." | "Even some police sources have conceded that the extent of use of the tactic took it beyond any available intelligence and best use of officer hours." |
| Learning disabilities | Learning disabilities |
| In June 2014, Police Scotland told MSPs it would abolish the "indefensible" practice of consensual stop-searches for children. | In June 2014, Police Scotland told MSPs it would abolish the "indefensible" practice of consensual stop-searches for children. |
| However, the BBC found that it had not ended and 356 children had been searched by police. Two thirds of these were consensual, and 91% recovered no items. | However, the BBC found that it had not ended and 356 children had been searched by police. Two thirds of these were consensual, and 91% recovered no items. |
| The nine-strong advisory group found that people with learning disabilities were subject of stop-and-search in "situations where they did not understand at the time what was happening". | The nine-strong advisory group found that people with learning disabilities were subject of stop-and-search in "situations where they did not understand at the time what was happening". |
| The report stated: " In one example, an individual with mild learning disability did not know whether the three searches to which he had been subjected had been statutory or non-statutory." | The report stated: " In one example, an individual with mild learning disability did not know whether the three searches to which he had been subjected had been statutory or non-statutory." |