Stop and search has been one of Police Scotland’s most controversial policies, which is quite something when you consider the stooshie over secretly armed officers.
Yet the high levels of searches being carried out, particularly on children, rankled with many. That is not to say checking people when there is reasonable suspicion should be stopped. They absolutely should.
However, it is the seemingly scattergun approach which has raised concerns, particularly when success rates are incredibly low and allegations are made by those on the frontline of targets which have to be met.
Besides the fact Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Mawson told MSPs on Holyrood’s Justice Committee the “indefensible” practice of consensual searches on children would be binned, there are big questions about how a youngster gives their consent and why babies are under suspicion.
He must now come back to parliament and face the music about his at best inaccurate statement last summer and some way must be found to hold Police Scotland to account.
Not for the first time the Scottish Police Authority, the force’s “watchdog”, looks toothless in the face off revelations.
We are not living in a police state yet. Answers are needed to these extremely serious questions.