Children younger than 11 were among almost 2,000 youngsters searched by police in three months, with dozens found to be carrying weapons such as knives.
Police Scotland say 1,832 under-18s were subject to stop and search between April and June and that over 75% of searches failed to produce anything illegal.
Data shows that 17 youngsters aged 11 and younger were searched, with none found to be in possession of drugs, weapons or contraband.
The news comes as Police Scotland ratcheted up its reliance on the controversial use of stop and search, claiming it is a “necessary and significant power”. They carried out 11,576 street searches in total – almost 27% more than the same period last year.
Around a quarter of searches (24.7%) proved to be positive.
Increased searches on under 18s
It is the increasing use of stop and search on children under 18 that is regarded as most contentious by critics and child welfare experts.
Last year, the UN told the UK and Scottish Governments that some forms of police use of force against children should be banned.
According to police data, there were more minors frisked during the period than those aged 18-19, of whom 864 were searched.
Officers targeted 902 children aged 12-15, and 913 aged 16-17 among the total 1,815 under 18s searched.
Data shows that 37 weapons were recovered from those aged 12-15 during the period – up by four compared with last year – and a further 32 from teenagers aged 16-17 – up 11 on the same period last year.
Stop and search is a controversial operational tactic allowing officers to stop, question and search people suspected of doing something illegal, including carrying drugs or weapons such as knives.
Critics say the tactic has little effect on violent crime and Police Scotland admit Illegal items such as drugs, weapons or stolen goods are recovered in around only a third of all searches.
Police Scotland, however, say stop and search cleared 2,863 illegal items off the streets in the period.
Drugs were recovered in 2,239 searches, weapons in 293 and stolen property recovered in 226 instances.
The haul of weapons recovered included firearms, scores of knives, fireworks, “blunt” objects and other “pointed articles and instruments”.
Children and Young People’s Commissioner, Nicola Killean, has stressed the use of stop-and-search powers in relation to children “must be lawful and proportionate”.
She says data showing the majority of searches do not yield a positive result raises “legitimate concerns that children are being subjected to potentially needless and traumatising searches”.
Ms Killean added: “A rights-based justice system should be focused on respect and dignity, where fostering trusted relationships between police and children are the key tool to addressing any concerning behaviour.”
Scottish Conservative shadow minister for community safety, Sharon Dowey MSP, said: “Many parents may well be alarmed at the scale the police are using stop and search powers.
“However, stop and search powers remain an essential tool for our officers to have at their disposal.
“With a spate of knife crime related incidents in recent months, we have called for an expansion of stop and search powers to crackdown on an epidemic of youth violence.
“Scots will feel it is important that the police use these powers proportionately so that Scotland’s consensual policing approach is not compromised.”
Scottish Labour justice spokesperson, Pauline McNeill MSP, said: “Scotland is facing rising violent crime among young people but the SNP is failing to tackle the problem.
“Scottish Labour has previously called for early intervention schemes to address the root causes of youth violence and for our justice system to be equipped to prevent and prosecute knife crime.
“Stop and search powers should be used where lawful, necessary and proportionate.”
Police Scotland say recent years have generally seen rising numbers of weapons recovered from young people, particularly 16–17 year olds.
A police report says: “Whereas the number of searches that recovered drugs from children has been decreasing… there was a rise in drug recoveries amongst 12-15 year olds this quarter compared to the same period last year.”
Assistant Chief Constable, Wendy Middleton, said intelligence-led stop and search was a “valuable and effective policing tactic that helps us keep people safe in many different ways”.
She added: “All searches carried out are subject to governance and review in line with scrutiny arrangements to confirm they comply with the Code of Practice being lawful, necessary and proportionate.”
