Police Scotland conducted more than 40,000 street searches in a year, recovering contraband or leading to arrest in only a quarter of that number according to new figures.
Data shows that officers carried out 40,070 stop and searches in 2024/25 – up 21.1% on the previous year – with illegal items recovered in less than a quarter of cases.
It means in around 75% of cases officers failed to find weapons, drugs or stolen goods despite carrying out almost 8,500 additional searches compared to the previous year.
Data shows the “positive” rate fell by 4.1% and was 9% lower than the five-year average.
Thousands of youngsters under 18, including some as young as 11, were among those subjected to street searches.
Analysis shows 4,628 children under 18 were frisked with 3,759 proving cases “negative”, including 42 children aged under 12 with 40 searches failing to yield contraband.
Scotland’s human rights watchdog warned the rising number of street searches amid falling “positive” results was “potentially unlawful and disproportionate”.
And the Scottish Liberal Democrats urged Police Scotland not to “backslide” over their use of the tactic that has “poisoned” relations between officers and the public in the past.
Professor Angela O’Hagan, Chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, said: “We recognise that the use of these powers impacts on every person’s right to privacy, which is protected by the Human Rights Act and UN treaties.
“We know that use of stop and search police powers can disproportionately affect marginalised communities and young people.
“Last year, we reported to UN human rights bodies raising concerns about how stop and search powers are being used in Scotland calling them potentially unlawful and disproportionate.
“We will continue to work with the Scottish Government… to consider how these recommendations can be used to strengthen the protection of human rights for everybody in Scotland.”
Scottish Liberal Democrat Justice spokesperson Liam McArthur says stop and search “has its place”.
He warned: “In the past when it has run out of control, it has undermined community policing and poisoned the relationship between officers and the public.
“Under Alex Salmond’s SNP, stop and search was used on kids who were younger than 10. The dismantling of this policy was a win-win for both people’s rights and police resources.
“Search numbers decreased dramatically, detection rates improved and the fact every search requires proper justification meant both the police and public had greater confidence in the system.”
Mr McArthur added: “Both Police Scotland and Scottish ministers should be extremely wary about backsliding towards a world where stop and search is treated as the only solution and community policing and investment like youth work is ignored.”
Stop-and-search is a controversial tactic that allows officers to stop, question and search anyone suspected of doing something illegal, including carrying drugs or weapons such as knives.
It is regarded by Police Scotland to be a “valuable policing tactic which helps prevent, investigate and detect crime to keep people safe” and a key tool in tackling crime, particularly the rise in knife crime.
Data shows that of the 40,070 frisks carried out, 7804 led to the recovery of drugs, 929 found weapons and 805 recovered stolen property.
Of those that recovered weapons, 132 were confiscated from 12-15 year olds, with a further 97 removed from 16-17 year olds.
Scottish Conservative shadow minister for community safety Sharon Dowey backed stop and search as an “essential tool for officers to help crackdown on the growing epidemic of youth violence in our communities”.
She said: “Frontline officers have recently demanded an extension to these powers and John Swinney should listen to them.
“While the public will expect any greater powers to be used appropriately, the onus is on the SNP to support our officers to help keep our communities safe.”
Chief Constable Jo Farrell insists stop and search is a “really valuable policing tactic to remove weapons from pockets”.
She said: “Reducing violence and preventing the harm it is causing continues to be an absolute priority.
“We have a high compliance rate with our code of practice and we have an online dashboard around stop and search, so there is accountability and transparency around the use of the tactic and it is conducted by local officers who know their communities best.
“At the same time, we must continually work with partners to understand and tackle the complex issues around youth violence.”
