STOP-SEARCH SPEECH CHANGED FOR DEBATE

POLICE chiefs face more embarrassment on stop and search after it emerged that an officer helped to draft an academic’s speech.

Professor Ross Deuchar of West of Scotland University said stop and search was ‘overwhelmingly successful’ at a debate in Glasgow. But freedom of i nformation requests show that an unnamed Police Scotland officer influenced changes and additions.

Chief Constable Sir Stephen House has faced repeated criticism on broken promises to abolish under-12 searches. Lib Dem justice spokesman Alison McInnes said it raised ‘further questions about attitudes within Police Scotland towards the value it places on preserving the integrity and impartiality of academic review.’