A dramatic rise in the use of stop and search powers by police in Fife has been defended.
Police Scotland has said the 470% rise in the number of people stopped is “focused and ethical” and used only to reduce offending in the region.
It comes after local MSP Willie Rennie said he had “real cause for concern” over the latest data and suggested criteria for using the powers should be reviewed.
However, stating the measures were proving effective in tackling crime, a Police Scotland spokesperson said stop and search was integral to local law enforcement.
“Through continued engagement with the public and from our multi-member ward policing plans, we know that crimes of violence and anti-social behaviour are key concerns for our communities, and it is essential weapons and other items associated with these offences are removed from our communities before they can do harm,” he said.
“We use focused and ethical stop and searches to reduce violence and prevent offending in public places. The use of targeted and intelligence-led stop and search is an effective and legal tactic, which helps support local policing priorities.
“The impact and success of stop and search is founded on its deployment in the right places, at the right time, in tackling criminality and disorder in public places.
“Stop and search is used proportionately across Fife and is an important contributor to the significant reduction in antisocial behaviour and public space crime and disorder throughout the region over the past 12 months.
“Effectively tackling these crimes reaffirms our commitment to responding to those issues that are of most concern to the communities of Fife.”
End-of-year figures from Police Scotland showed the number of people stopped and searched in Fife increased by 471% between 2012/13 and 2013/14.
Nationwide, the data suggest people in Scotland are now almost seven times more likely than those in England and Wales to be stopped and searched.
Mr Rennie said: “Properly regulated, stop and search can be an effective tool in detecting crime and making Scotland’s streets safer.
“But since the creation of the single police service we have seen huge increases in the use of the tactic across Scotland, with most searches not based on any evidence or suspicion of wrongdoing.
“In Fife alone we have seen an increase of more than 470% in just 12 months. This is a real cause for concern and the case for looking again at the laws governing the use of this tactic is overwhelming.
“When the SNP scrapped Fife Constabulary we were assured by the justice secretary that this would not mean the end of local policing. But these latest stop and search statistics demonstrate a one-size-fits-all approach that is not right for Fife.”