Rise in 'stop and search' questioned by Policing Partnership board member

THE rise in the use of Section 24 stop and search powers by the PSNI has been questioned by Derry City Sinn Féin Councillor and local District Policing Partnership member Elisha McLaughlin.

The latest report given to the North’s Policing Board shows a rise in the use of Section 24 of the Justice and Security Act powers since suspension of the use of stop and search powers under Section 44 by PSNI in July 2010.

Elisha McLaughlin said:

This is a very worrying trend and something that needs addressed as a matter of urgency.

Earlier this year, Sinn Féin MLA Martina Anderson campaigned for the removal  of Section of 44 in the North following a ruling from European Court of Human Rights that police powers to use laws to stop and search people without grounds for suspicion were illegal.

It was accepted that the use of these powers had a negative impact on relations between the community and the police.

Elisha Mclaughlin: Concern over rise

Elisha McLaughlin pointed out:

We cannot simply remove one power and replace it with another if the negative impact is still the same

Elisha added:

People in Derry want to see civic and accountable policing. They want a police service that will deal robustly with serious issues affecting their daily lives such as drugs and criminality in our communities. And while excuses of lack of resources are regularly quoted for failure to respond to incidents of burglary, robberies and anti-community activity, it’s hard to explain why there seems to be infinite resources for what is perceived as political policing.