Stop & Search Incidence Criticised

Despite progress, more still needs to be done to ensure that Human Rights are fully integrated across policing in NI.

That's according to the Northern Ireland Policing Board's fifth Annual Report into the Police Service of Northern Ireland's (PSNI's) compliance with the Human Rights Act 1998.

The report assesses how the police service has met human rights responsibilities during the last year across 15 key policing areas.

It reflects the real progress that the PSNI has made since the first report was published in 2005 but noted that police tripled their use of stop-and-search last year, and showed that, in 2008/9, the PSNI used the anti-terror legislation almost 10,000 times, compared to 3,234 incidents in 2007/8.

Section 44 of the Terrorism Act, which allows police to act without reasonable suspicion, was last week ruled illegal by the European Court of Human Rights.

The report has said it must not be seen as an easy alternative to traditional policing methods.

Speaking at the launch of the report, Chairman of the Board, Barry Gilligan said: "For policing to be effective and to secure the confidence of the community it is essential that human rights standards are integrated into the day to day aspects and behaviours of policing.

"The Board has invested significant time and effort in monitoring and assessing PSNI progress in this critical area," he said.

He noted that members of the Board's Human Rights and Professional Standards Committee have specific responsibility for scrutinising this work and, assisted by the expertise of its Human Rights Advisor, will oversee the implementation of the 20 new recommendations made in this Report.

"It is important to note that the PSNI have made significant progress over the five year period with the full implementation of 155 out of 179 recommendations; with two partially implemented; 20 withdrawn; and two outstanding.

"That is a significant achievement on the part of the PSNI," he concluded.

Commenting on the findings, Chair of the Board's Human Rights and Professional Standards Committee, Basil McCrea, the Ulster Unionist MLA, said: "This is a positive reflection of the PSNI's commitment to Human Rights compliance.

"For the first time it also includes an overview of the innovative new approach to the Board's monitoring work which involves thematic inspection of key areas of policing.

"However there is still important work to be done in the year ahead and my Committee will continue to give priority to ensuring that human rights practice and behaviour are fully embedded into policing in Northern Ireland," Mr McCrea continued.

(BMcC/GK)