Police stop-and-search guidance for children drawn up
A special children's guide is being drawn up to help youngsters understand a new code of conduct on police stop-and- searches.
A special children's guide is being drawn up to help youngsters understand a new code of conduct on police stop-and- searches.
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson told MSPs a guide that “would be appropriate to that particular age group” is being developed.
As well as the guide for children and young people, one “in plain English” is also being drawn up, he said.
The aim is to make people aware of the new code of practice for stop-and-search, which is due to come into place in May at a cost of £2.8 million.
He also stressed the “views and issues of young people” regarding stop-and-search had been considered when drawing up the regulations.
He told MSPs on Holyrood's Justice Committee: “There was a very significant and concerted attempt to make sure we captured the views of young people around stop-and-search, given there had been such a significant concern about the way that stop-and-search had been used with young people.''
The code is being introduced following concerns over the number of people being searched by police without any legal basis.
The number of stop-and-searches has fallen dramatically since 2013/14 when the scale of their use was first exposed.
Statistics show 888 consensual searches and 20,665 statutory searches were conducted between April 1 and September 30 2016.
This compares with 450,173 consensual searches and 192,470 statutory searches in 2013/14.
Once the code comes into force, non-statutory or “consensual” stop-and-searches will be banned entirely.
The legal basis for statutory searches is “reasonable grounds” for suspicion that the person has committed, is committing or is about to commit a crime, or is in possession of a prohibited item.
The code makes clear the person's physical appearance, clothing, “generalisations or stereotypical images” or record of previous convictions cannot be used alone as a reason for a search.
Mr Matheson said: “Any small amount of additional bureaucracy that is attached to the application of the code, I think is outweighed from the benefits we get in public trust and public reassurance around how stop-and-search is being used by the police.”
The new code will give “clarity” over the use of stop-and-search for both the police and the public, he added, helping ensure they are only carried out when “legitimate” to do so.
“Given the very invasive nature of stop-and-search, it's an invasive tactic which invades an individual's personal privacy, we need to make sure we get those checks and balances right,” he said.
The committee unanimously agreed the new regulations, which will now go before the Scottish Parliament for formal approval.