Scotland in the lead on stop and search

The Scottish police have stopped 'tens of thousands' of children without any legal cause, leading to concerns that there are inadequate safeguards and the searches could potentially breach childrens' human rights.

A study conducted by Kath Murray from the University of Edinburgh found that 26,000 children under 14 had been stopped, with 145,600 stop and searches against 15 to 20 year olds, in one year.

The research also found that people in Scotland were four times more likely to be stopped and searched than those in England.

An inquiry has been lauched into police practice regarding stop and searches and findings will be published in March 2014, reports The Guardian.