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Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Alison McInnes MSP has formally sought support from the Scottish Government for her partys moves to end the discredited practice of consensual stop and search.

In a letter sent to Justice Secretary Michael Matheson today, Ms McInnes said that the regulatory regime for stop and search must be strengthened, highlighting warnings that current police practice could be successfully challenged in the courts. The Scottish Human Rights Commissioner stated again last week that consensual searches are almost certainly unlawful.

The letter has been sent as Scottish Liberal Democrat moves to abolish consensual stop and search are formally lodged at the Scottish Parliament.

The Scottish Liberal Democrat amendments will:

ensure all stop and searches have a robust statutory footing;

require Ministers to establish a code of practice, similar to that established in England and Wales, to be approved by Parliament and updated every four years;

necessitate the Scottish Police Authority to provide an account of the use of stop and search in its annual report to Parliament;

place a duty upon a constable to consider a childs best interest when searching them.

Extracts from the letter are as follows:

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McInnes seeking SNP support for stop and search reforms