POLICE officers claim they make up more than half of the stop and searches they do.

Recently, the Scottish Police Authority published a review of stop and search cases which included interviews with officers.

A few of those questioned admitted they were concerned searches were being recorded which had not happened. One senior officer even said the practice was "common".

The report said: "When pressed for how significant this over-recording might be, he stated it could be as high as 90% for some officers and around 50% for others."

Stop and search was one of Strathclyde Police's key anti-crime policies and has been rolled out across the country by the single force's chief constable Steve House. In the first year of Police Scotland, one area had a rise in the procedure of up to 400%.

A police spokesman said: "Police Scotland co-operated fully with the SPA review and is reviewing all 10 recommendations.

"The SPA report concludes intelligence led stop and search can play a part in helping detect and prevent criminal and anti-social behaviour."

vivienne.nicoll@ eveningtimes.co.uk