MacAskill sparks row over rail stop-and-search policy

SCOTTISH and UK ministers were today embroiled in a public row over the use of stop-and-search powers at railway stations

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill was accused by a Westminster Labour minister of mounting a "party political attack" on the British Transport Police.

But Mr MacAskill in turn defended his stance and denied that he had set out to pick a fight with London.

The row erupted after Mr MacAskill questioned the use of stop-and-search powers at Scottish railway stations in the wake of the terror attack on Glasgow Airport.

The transport force has carried out more than 14,000 searches since June, while Scotland's eight police forces have carried out fewer than 200.

Mr MacAskill also criticised the high proportion of people from ethnic minorities being searched.

He claimed he had anecdotal evidence that the public and staff were being "pulled aside and interrogated".

However, UK Transport Minister Tom Harris today said Mr MacAskill should have spoken to the British Transport Police about the issue.

The Westminster politician launched his own attack on the Justice Secretary, demanding: "Why is Kenny MacAskill launching such an unprovoked attack on the British Transport Police when he's not even picking up the phone to ask for an explanation of these figures?"

He continued: "I'm the minister responsible for the British Transport Police. I have worked with them in various capacities over the past ten years or so. They are an outstanding police force.

"It is of course my duty to defend them when they are subject to a party political attack of this nature."

Mr Harris, speaking on BBC Radio Scotland, said: "Kenny MacAskill is playing politics with anti-terrorism operations – and at this period, when we are subject to who knows what kind of terrorist threat, it is outrageous for a minister to attack the British Transport Police, when all they are trying to do is protect the travelling public."

Following his remarks, Mr Harris, who is the MP for Glasgow South, has sent a strongly worded letter to Mr MacAskill. He added that he had a large number of Asian voters in his constituency and had received "not one single complaint" from them.

However, Mr MacAskill today insisted that he had been right to raise the issue, and said he had no plans to apologise.

"What we have to do in Scotland is make sure we make Scotland safe and strong," he said.

"I regret very much that a London minister – given that we have been co-operating with them fully and with governments internationally to combat terrorism – should take this position."

He added: "I have no complaints of the ordinary members of British Transport Police – it's the ethos and diktat coming from London."

The number of stops and searches had prompted "concern", he said, particularly in the Asian community.

"The fact of the matter is that two per cent of the Scottish population is an ethnic minority in the black and Asian community, yet they have suffered 12 per cent of the searches," he said.