A NEW code will ensure Police Scotland’s officers use fairness and respect when it comes to applying controversial stop and search powers, Justice Secretary Michael Matheson has said.
The code, developed by an expert group led by John Scott QC, and which received widespread public support during consultation and was unanimously approved by the Scottish Parliament, comes into force today.
The code sets out that use of powers must be necessary, proportionate and in accordance with the law and recognises that specific guidance on dealing with children and vulnerable adults is required.
Matheson said: “The ability of police to stop and search individuals can be an intrusion into liberty and privacy, but remains a valuable tool in combating crime.
“I have spent some time with police officers using the new code on our streets and am in no doubt that such searches will be carried out with fairness, integrity and respect.
“The views expressed during the consultation period were absolutely key to shaping the new code. I am very pleased to see it in use and believe that the public can now have even greater confidence in Police Scotland as they carry out their duties.”
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Williams added: “Police Scotland welcomes the introduction of the code and has worked closely with the Scottish Government to support its development. It provides clear guidance to all our officers and places the rights of the individuals at the centre of any decision to carry out a search.
“In preparation for the introduction of the code all frontline officers have received training and we will continue to work closely with partners, particularly children and young people, to monitor its impact.”
Scott had been a critic of the previous policy of “consensual” searches, where police didn’t need to have reasonable grounds for suspecting someone was carrying something they shouldn’t be before searching, but rather could ask someone for permission to frisk them.
The tactic was often used on young people to search for alcohol, weapons or drugs, and was a key strand of the crime fighting strategy of former chief constable Sir Stephen House.
House always denied he gave his officers “targets on volume in terms of stop and search”. But the Scottish Police Federation said the rank and file were convinced they had quotas to meet. House resigned in August 2015. Since then the number of consensual searches has fallen steeply.
Just 888 were made between April 1 and September 30 last year, with 20,665 statutory searches conducted over the same period.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here