Concerns that "disproportionate" searches of children for concealed criminal items are being driven by targets have prompted calls for a review of stop and search by children's charities.
Around 500 children aged 10 and under were stopped and searched by the police in 2010, a recent Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research report found.
Use of stop and search has more than doubled in recent years with Scots estimated to be six times more likely to be stopped than people south of the Border, but detection rates for offensive weapons are less than 2%, Edinburgh University research found last month. Reports that the use of stop and search is "based on a desire to meet targets" have been described as "unacceptable" by the Together alliance for children's rights.
The alliance, which comprises Barnardo's, Children 1st, Children in Scotland, Circle Scotland, Includem and Mentor UK, have called for a review.
A Together statement said: "We call on Police Scotland and its Police Authority to review urgently the current use of stop and search and any targets being set at a divisional level. Any review should involve children, young people and their communities."
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