TWO Antrim councillors have voiced opposing opinions to latest statistics surrounding the police's stop and search powers.
Latest statistics have shown that 10,265 stop and searches were carried across Northern Ireland between July 1 and September 30 2009, which is three times as more than the same period during the year before.
While DUP Councillor and former Chair o
f Antrim DPP Pam Lewis defended the use of stop and search powers by the police, SDLP Assembly Member Thomas Burns said the PSNI have questions to answer over the amount carried out.
Cllr. Burns said: “Given the level of threat, it is reasonable that the police are conducting higher levels of stop-and-search.
“However, questions are rightfully being asked about the very significant increase in recent times. The fact that the PSNI used this anti-terror legislation almost 10,000 times in 2008/9 compared to 3,234 incidents in 2007/8 is unjustified and quite unacceptable.
“The SDLP spoke with senior police, the NIO, and officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs in both December and January about how powers were being used in certain circumstances.”
However, Cllr. Lewis aruged these powers are vital in the fight against the threat of dissidents, and stated: “Stop and search powers are a powerful tool in helping to prevent and disrupt crime and detect offenders, whether it is street robbery, gun and knife crime, drug dealing or terrorism. The public must understand that these powers are designed to combat all of these offenses, especially the heightened threat which currently exists from dissident republicans.”
Cllr. Burns warned these searches could lead to hostility towards officers, he added: “We conveyed a concern that the persistent use of these powers against some individuals was resulting in these people and their families adopting a more doubtful, if not hostile, attitude towards the police. That is one of the risks if police powers are used or are perceived to be used unreasonably.
“The fact that there is increased use of police powers and an increase in the number of complaints to the Police Ombudsman suggest that there are questions that need full answers.
“I will be raising these issues with the PSNI to ensure that the local police’s use of power is always consistent with best practice and standards.”
Councillor Lewis believes these powers go a long way in protecting the community, and added: “Police officers must possess the appropriate powers to prevent terrorist attacks in order to protect the entire community.
“The increase in the number of stop and searches or questioning must be offset against the intensification of dissident republicans to murder members of the security forces, which was all to evident following the attempted murder of Peader Heffron near Randalstown.
