DPP vote to suspend stop and search powers

Derry District Policing Partnership(DPP) passed a motion on Tuesday calling for the local PSNI commander to suspend stop and search powers.

The motion was carried after a private vote in which Sinn Fein were in favour, the SDLP abstained, Unionists opposed and independents were split.

The DPP is meeting Chief Constable Matt Bagott in Londonderry on Wednesday morning to discuss the issue.

Last year, about 10,000 people were stopped and searched by the PSNI.

The powers were used more often in the north west than in any other district.

Figures from a Policing Board report found 2,612 stop-and-searches were carried out in G District (Foyle, Limavady, Magherafelt and Strabane) in 2008/09.

There were 700 more stop and searches in G District than in the next highest district, East and South Belfast.

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