By Adam Morris
Ten pensioners were among hundreds found with weapons, drugs and stolen goods as part of a three month stop-and-search drive, it has emerged.
An 89-year-old woman in Orkney was found with a “pointed article” weapon, while a 78-year-old was discovered in possession of class B drugs.
Several others over the age of 65 were apprehended across the country between October and December, as part of a drive which resulted in 2,483 positive searches – the equivalent of 27 a day.
Analysis of the stop-and-search data also revealed 121 children were successfully searched by officers.
Earlier this year, 1919 reported how children as young as 10 were found with knives in a previous initiative between April and September.
Since that revelation, two 12-year-olds were found to be carrying knives in Ayrshire and Lanarkshire, while two others of the same age were caught with drugs.
Several youths were stripped of fireworks by officers in that time period, while others were searched for “care and welfare” reasons.
In one instance in the Nith area of Dumfries and Galloway in December, a 14-year-old boy was found in possession of a firearm.
The practice regularly comes under the spotlight at UK level, particularly in relation to which groups are most likely to be subjected to a search.
But it is understood around one in every three searches north of the border results in the discovery of harmful or illicit items, otherwise known as a “positive” search.
Former senior officer Martin Gallagher, now an author and expert in terrorism and serious organised crime, said the tactic has always been vital in stopping crime.
“It was essentially two uniformed officers undertaking a ‘stop and account’ that caught Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper,” he said.
“It’s an important police activity that became much maligned when it transformed from an everyday function that enabled police proactivity into a performance metric,” he said.
“The fact children are being found in possession of illegal items comes as no surprise.
“In my own work I seized a multitude of drugs and weapons using stop-and-search powers over the years.”
In total, the stop-and-search figures for the last three months of 2024 revealed hundreds of varied incidents across all age groups.
Three further incidents involving men being caught with firearms occurred in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Lanarkshire.
It has also emerged that in September four men aged between 19 and 50 were found to be in possession of illicit “wildlife” in Inverness.
Retired superintendent Niven Rennie, who now chairs the Hope Collective – a young people’s charity – said: “Stop-and-search is a good tool for police to use in times when violence is a real problem.
“But the underlying issue around prevention is that the answers don’t lie in the justice system.
“A healthy society provides alternative opportunities for young people and a positive childhood. Justice becomes involved when society fails in this respect.”
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Sutherland told 1919 stop-and-search is a “valuable and effective policing tactic” which is carried out under a strict code of practice.
He added: “Victims of crime and people right across the country expect us to use all powers at our disposal to keep them safe.
“Policing with the consent, support and co-operation of our fellow citizens lies right at the heart of Police Scotland’s identity and our legitimacy.
“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.”