Stop & Search In Fife

Councillors welcome a new approach to Stop and Search in Fife as rates soar.

It's claimed two thirds of stop and searches are conducted without sound legal basis, intelligence or suspicion. A pilot project is underway to look at the number of children being searched by Police. It follows the publication of figures which show there's been a 470% increase in the number of youngsters being stopped in Fife.

The pilot will trial sending letters to parents and guardians of anyone, under the age of 16, who have been searched. It will be undertaken between July and December this year and will then be formally evaluated. The new arrangements will be reviewed by the Police's Liaison Advisory Group. Schools, the University of St Andrews and colleges will also be updated on this every two months, with a report going to the Council's Safer Communities Committee.

Councillor Tim Brett explained:

"There has been widespread concern across Scotland about the significant increase in the use of stop and search under the new national police force. There have been particular worries that there has been a major jump in the number of individuals who have been stopped and searched, with an astonishing 470% increase in Fife, as well as concerns about the number of young people and children who have been affected by this. 

I was therefore pleased to attend a presentation at Police Headquarters in Fife when we were advised of the introduction of a pilot in Fife that it is hoped will start to improve the way in which stop and search is used."

Councillor Kennedy agreed:

"This pilot is a step in the right direction, particularly for such a sensitive subject. It is welcome that Police Scotland are finally exploring how to introduce proper procedures and recording systems, although I believe Fife's legacy force would have done this before rolling out the new stop and search policy – not more than a year later. 

"Evidence-led, properly regulated stop and search can be an effective tool in detecting crime and making our streets safer; however, the current position in Fife is that 67% of stop and searches are voluntary with the remaining 33% being statutory. I remain concerned that this still means that two thirds of searches are conducted without sound legal basis, intelligence or 
suspicion."

Councillor Brett added:

"It is hoped that this pilot will provide us with a much clearer idea of the impact that stop and search is having on our communities."