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Consensual stop-and-searches by Police Scotland to end | |
(34 minutes later) | |
Police Scotland is to stop carrying out non-statutory stop-and-searches of adults and children, the justice secretary has confirmed. | |
It comes after the Scottish government asked John Scott QC to examine the controversial practice. | |
His report found that ending the searches would not prevent officers carrying out their duties effectively. | |
A BBC Scotland investigation had found that children under 12 were being searched. | |
This was despite a police promise that they would not be. | |
Code of practice | |
In a statement to MSPs at Holyrood, Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said a new new statutory code of practice, as recommended by Mr Scott, would be introduced to underpin how stop and search is used in Scotland. | |
A consultation on the new code of practice will be held, and will also examine whether the police should have the power to search children under 18 for alcohol. | |
The expert advisory group led by Mr Scott will remain in place to give advice on the final version of the code of practice once the consultation is complete. | |
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had requested the independent investigation by Mr Scott at the beginning of the summer. | |
Mr Scott's report made a series of 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 | ANALYSIS |
By Marc Ellison, BBC Scotland data journalist | 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. | 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? | 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." | 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 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 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. |
Read more from Marc | Read more from Marc |
The Scott Report also found that officers had been required to meet targets on consensual stop-and-searches. | 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." |