Police more likely to search black people

Police in Scotland were twice as likely to search black people than white, Asian or Indian citizens last year, a report suggests.

The Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research analysis of 2016 figures also found rates were “particularly high” amongst people from the traveller community.

The figures predate the introduction of a national Police Scotland code of practice for stop-andsearch and retraining for officers.

Police Scotland Superintendent Andy Mckay said: “Police Scotland is committed to ensuring that all stop-and-search activity is carried out in a lawful, proportionate, justifiable and accountable manner and officers will treat members of the public in keeping with Police Scotland’s core values of fairness, integrity, respect.”