Stop and search powers illegal according to the European court

international | rights, freedoms and repression | other press

Tuesday January 12, 2010 17:53

by Campaigner

Spotted this on the eirigi website and it could have some possible and very welcome repercussions right across Ireland.

The European court has ruled that stop and search powers which the British government has given to various police forces by virtue of Sections 44&45 of the Terrorism Act 2000 are illegal. The Strasbourg court had been hearing a case involving two people stopped near an arms fair in London in 2003. 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 said the stop and search powers were "not sufficiently circumscribed" and there were not "adequate legal safeguards against abuse".

Obviously, in the North where there has been concern about the rise in the use of stop and search powers, the PSNI will have to re-assess their use.

However, I think that the case could also impact upon the Gardaí and the way they have policed and harassed many on their way to various protests and demo's such as at Rossport, Tara, etc.

Perhaps, a few test cases are needed now on the back of this ruling.

This other article about the ruling is from the Guardian this afternoon and contains a link to the full judgment at the bottom http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/12/stop-and-se...legal

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Comments (4 of 4)

section 12

by nb

Thu May 12, 2011 16:07

it is also insanity that the left ignores the use of section 12 of the mental health act to arrest anyone who 'looks funny'

Stop &Search Powers

by Malachy Steenson

Thu May 12, 2011 15:57

Section 30 searches require the Garda's suspision that you have committed a scheduled offence

Likewise drug searches require reasonable suspision that you are in possession of drugs. For a drug search you can refuse to be searched in the street and demand to be taken into a Garda Station.

There is no general stop and search powers in this State nor is there any power where the state can compel you to them where you are going, there is no requirement to account for you future movements.

Likewise the knocking on doors on the routes and demanding information and access to buildings are not backed up by any legal requirement, people should refuse to answer any questions in these circumstances.

The silence on all of these matters is deafening and if they get away with it on this occasion it will be used in the coming months years as this society further breaks now.

The Police state is well and truely here.

ICCL?

Wed Jan 13, 2010 11:12

Its interesting that Liberty, the main human rights organisation in Britain, helped in bringing this case through the various stages. Perhaps, the ICCL which also has a similar remit should consider doing likewise, including in relation to any abuse of Section 30 of the OSA.

section 30

by Gearoid O Loingsigh

Tue Jan 12, 2010 23:35

What about section 30 of the offences against the state act?

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Stop and search powers illegal according to the European court

Comments (4 of 4)