The controversial practice of suspicionless searches - which have no legal basis - is for the chop, while assistant chief Wayne Mawson has been recalled to Holyrood over his claim that non-statutory searches for under 12s were "indefensible".
MSPs were angered to learn that this "indefensible" practice has continued.
Scotland's frisk rate is also far higher than in London and nine times the proportionate rate compared to the New York Police Department.
I've charted the collapse of this policy in the Sunday Herald since February last year.
Here is a beginners' guide to a policing initiative that has spiralled out of control.
1. 23rd
February, 2014. Police have been making up stop searches, claim officers.
2.
9th March, 2014. Leaked briefing: cops
told to boost successful stop and searches.
3. 23rd March, 2014.
Police chief admits to fake stop and search figures.
4.
30th March, 204. Police
prevent scrutiny of stop and search data.
5. 14th April, 2014. Cops challenge
single force over ‘bogus’ stop and searches.
6.
April 20th, 2014. Single force admits
there is no definition of a successful stop and search.
7.
3rd May, 2014. Single force overhauls
recording system for stop searches.
8.
1st June, 2014. Kids as young
as six were stop searched by Stephen House’s old force.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/children-as-young-as-six-subjected-to-stop-and-search.24374468
9.
5th July, 2014. Some cops make up nearly
90% of their stop searches, review hears.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/police-our-bosses- bully-us-to-boost-stop-and-search-figures.24682653
10.
21st June, 2014. Weapons discoveries from stop search policy
exaggerated by 40%.
11.
20th July, 2014. Scotland’s stop and search rate is 9 times
higher than in NYPD
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/police-scotland-frisk-nine-times-as-many-people-as-the-nypd.24811529
12. 28th June,
2014. Cops will be “firmly dealt with” if they don’t increase stop and
searches.
13.
August
16th, 2014. Stop searches fall by 40% after ‘bogus’ frisk scandal
exposed
14.
30th August, 2014. Police Scotland spent £10m on ‘unlawful’
stop searches
15.
27th September, 2014. Watchdog blocked critics from giving
evidence to frisk review.
16.
2nd November, 2014. Stop and search has failure rate of 84%.
17.
26th November, 2014. Frisk levels fall by 50% after scrutiny
of search policy.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/crime-courts/stop-and-search-halved-after-policy-put-under-microscope.25965485
18.
30th November, 2014. Drug detections from stop searches
include ‘legal highs’.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/police-scotland-drug-detection-rates-under-fire-after-disclosure-seizures-include-leg.25996462
19.
1st February, 2015. Scotland’s human rights tsar: end
non-statutory stop and search.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/scotlands-human-rights-tsar-demands-scrap-stop-and-search-without-suspicion.117420658
20.
8th February, 2015. Bid to end non-statutory frisks to be
made within days.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/bid-to-outlaw-consensual-stop-and-search-to-be-made-within-days.117945040
21. 22nd February 2015: Revealed, Police Scotland and Scottish Government tried to hamper research into stop-and-search
22. 22nd
March, 2015: Stop and search: now Police Scotland is collecting your phone
numbers
23. 17th May 2015: Revealed: how Police Scotland tried to undermine criticism of stop and search
24. 21st June, 2015: Nearly one in every five Glaswegians subjected to stop and search
25. 26th
July, 2015. World's End case used to defend stop and search policy
26. 9th August, 2015: Watchdog watered down stop and search report after House intervention
21. 22nd February 2015: Revealed, Police Scotland and Scottish Government tried to hamper research into stop-and-search
23. 17th May 2015: Revealed: how Police Scotland tried to undermine criticism of stop and search
24. 21st June, 2015: Nearly one in every five Glaswegians subjected to stop and search
26. 9th August, 2015: Watchdog watered down stop and search report after House intervention
