Police admit to stop and search incident on child under 12

Police chiefs have admitted officers stopped and searched a child this year despite the force twice saying the “indefensible” practice had ended.

Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Mawson told a Holyrood committee in June 2014 that the practice of consensual searches on children under the age of 12 would be scrapped.

Under-fire Police Scotland bosses last week reiterated its ban on the practice but later admitted that a stop-and-search had taken place in the first three months of this year.

Deputy Chief Constable Rose Fitzpatrick said: “I am aware at this point of one stop-and-search which was undertaken consensually on a young person under the age of 12.

“We have reported that to the police authority and the Scottish Government.”