Opposition politicians have backed a United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee report criticising Police Scotland’s controversial use of consensual stop and search.
The committee of 18 independent international experts said it is concerned about the “large-scale” use of the powers and called for their repeal.
Earlier this month the force was referred to the UN by the Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC).
Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokeswoman Alison McInnes said: “It is a bittersweet victory that the internationally-respected UN Human Rights Committee supports our position that so-called consensual stop and search should be scrapped.
“I hope the SNP will soon publicly back my moves to amend the Criminal Justice Bill so we can guarantee more people the justice system that they deserve.”
A report setting out the UN findings said: “The committee is concerned about the use of stop-and-search powers in Scotland, particularly non-statutory searches undertaken on a large scale by Police Scotland that appear to involve, inter alia, the selective application of such measures in a manner which is allegedly unlawful and disproportionate.
“Furthermore… the committee observes that no data on the community background of persons stopped and searched under this Act appear to have been gathered so as to ensure that such powers are not used disproportionately and arbitrarily against individuals of a particular ethnicity.”
SHRC chairman Professor Alan Miller said: “The commission is extremely pleased that the UN Human Rights Committee has taken on board our evidence on these and other issues.
“Its robust recommendations should now be addressed by the Scottish and UK Governments.”