New figures show that primary school-aged children are among nearly 11,000 under-18s stopped and searched by police in less than two years.
It has emerged more than 100 of those searched were aged 11 or under.
Scotland’s children’s rights watchdog warned the figures raise “legitimate concerns” over how youngsters are being policed
Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland Nicola Killean said some may have faced “unnecessary and potentially distressing” treatment.
Police Scotland data shows 103 children up to the age of 11 were stopped and searched between April 2024 and December 2025.
Only five of those searches resulted in illegal items being found.
Among older children, 5487 aged 12–15 were frisked during the period, with around 15% finding illegal items.
In the 16–17 age group, 5394 searches were carried out, with data showing around 23–24% resulted in “positive” outcomes, where officers found anything illicit.
It means 10,984 minors were subject to stop and search across the period.
Ms Killean said: “The use of stop-and-search powers in relation to children must be lawful and proportionate.
“Recent figures from Police Scotland show that around 5% of searches of children under 11 yielded a positive result, while 15% of those aged 12 to 15, and around 24% of those aged 16 to 17 yielded positive results.
“These figures raise legitimate concerns that children are being subjected to potentially needless and traumatising searches.
“A rights-based justice system should be focused on respect and dignity, where fostering trusted relationships between police and children is the key tool to addressing any concerning behaviour.”
Children were among the 71,393 people subject to street frisks by Police Scotland during the period.
Stop and search is a controversial operational police tactic allowing officers to stop, question and frisk people suspected of illegality, such as carrying drugs or weapons.
The force’s use of the powers on children – including those under the age of 11 – is regarded by critics and campaigners as one of the most contentious aspects of the practice.
Opponents argue subjecting such young individuals to police searches raises serious ethical and legal concerns, particularly around consent, safeguarding and the potential psychological impact.
They further claim it has little effect on violent crime with data confirming that in the majority of cases officers fail to find anything illegal.
Police Scotland, however, insist it is a “valuable policing tactic which helps prevent, investigate and detect crime to keep people safe”.
In the year to March 2025, Police Scotland carried out 40,065 searches, with a further 31,328 in the nine months between April and December, giving an overall total of 71,393.
Data shows that across the two reporting periods, 975 weapons and 42 firearms were taken off the streets.
The haul of weapons recovered included knives, firearms, fireworks, “blunt instruments” and other “pointed articles and instruments”.
Drugs were found in 13,391 searches, along with the recovery of stolen property in 1763 searches.
Analysis shows that across the two reporting periods the majority of searches resulted in no formal police action.
Over half of all cases – around 54% – ended in “No Further Action”, with nearly one in five recorded as “SID Logs”, meaning they were documented for intelligence or monitoring purposes rather than enforcement.
Around 10% resulted in Recorded Police Warnings.
Overall most cases were either closed without action or simply recorded, with only a small minority leading to formal penalties.
Police Scotland insist they recognise the sensitivity around the use of the stop and search and closely monitor proportionality regarding age, gender and ethnicity through “robust governance measures”.
Assistant Chief Constable Wendy Middleton said: “Intelligence-led stop and search is a valuable and effective policing tactic that helps us keep people safe in many different ways.
“This tactic must be used lawfully, proportionately and in line with the Code of Practice, which was introduced in 2017.
“The Code has a dedicated section for children and provides guidance for officers when making a decision to stop search a child using the appropriate statutory power.
“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.
“We recognise that stopping and searching people is a significant intrusion into their personal liberty and privacy and we remain committed to ensuring that people are treated with fairness, integrity and respect.”
