MacAskill gives police blessing to end random stop-and-search row

KENNY MacAskill, the justice secretary, has signalled an end to his row with British Transport Police over their use of random stop-and-search powers following last year's terrorist attack on Glasgow airport.

Following a meeting yesterday with David McCall, the force's assistant chief constable (Scotland), the minister said he "was now satisfied that these powers are being used in a more focused way".

In December, Mr MacAskill criticised the 14,000 stop-and- searches in Scotland in the wake of the attack as "extraordinary".