This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/8460303.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
PSNI search powers under scrutiny PSNI search powers under scrutiny
(about 3 hours later)
The Policing Board is to consider the impact of a European Human Rights Court report on police stop and search powers in Northern Ireland. The Policing Board is to consider the impact of a European Human Rights Court ruling on police stop and search powers in Northern Ireland.
There has been a large rise in the use of Section 44 searches over the last year, coinciding with an upsurge in dissident republican activity.There has been a large rise in the use of Section 44 searches over the last year, coinciding with an upsurge in dissident republican activity.
Between 1 July and 30 Sept 2009 10,265 stop and searches were carried out under section 44. Between 1 July and 30 September 2009 10,265 stop and searches were carried out under Section 44.
That compares to 1,657 in the same period in 2008.That compares to 1,657 in the same period in 2008.
Policing Board member Basil McCrea confirmed that the impact of the recent decision by the European Court of Human Rights regarding section 44 and 45 of the Terrorism Act 2000 on current PSNI practice "will now be considered". Discrimination risk
Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 allows the home secretary to authorise police officers to make random searches in certain circumstances.
However, the legislation has been challenged by a journalist and an anti-war protestor who were stopped by officers near a London arms fair in 2003.
In Strasbourg on Tuesday, the European Court of Human Rights said the pair's rights under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights had been violated.
The court also ruled that the UK's stop and search powers were "not sufficiently circumscribed" and there were not "adequate legal safeguards against abuse".
It concluded that "the risks of the discriminatory use of the powers" were "a very real consideration".
'Anti-terrorism measures'
Northern Ireland Policing Board member Basil McCrea confirmed that the impact of the European ruling on current PSNI practice "will now be considered".
He said: "The Human Rights and Professional Standards Committee at the Policing Board will continue to monitor stop and search powers and to hold the PSNI to account.He said: "The Human Rights and Professional Standards Committee at the Policing Board will continue to monitor stop and search powers and to hold the PSNI to account.
"Robust anti-terrorism measures are vital, especially in light of the severity of the current security situation. It is appropriate and only right that a police service can use tools, such as stop and search powers, to thwart terrorist activities." "Robust anti-terrorism measures are vital, especially in light of the severity of the current security situation.
"It is appropriate and only right that a police service can use tools, such as stop and search powers, to thwart terrorist activities," he added.