The PSNI has lost the power to stop and search members of the public under British anti-terrorism legislation.
The Home Office in London announced late yesterday it would act in response to a European Court ruling that Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 was illegal. There is no appeal.
This measure had empowered the PSNI and other forces to stop and search citizens at random, a practice which the PSNI had used nearly 10,000 times in the last annual accounting period, up 300 per cent on the previous year. The Garda have powers to stop and search a person if they suspect them of one of a wide range of offences, but not to stop and search someone randomly. The PSNI said the measure was in response to the severe threat from dissident republicans.