A 245 per cent increase in the number of people stopped and searched under terrorism powers in Northern Ireland in the last quarter of 2008 caused concern today.
The Police Board, which holds the Police Service of Northern Ireland to account, asked for assurances from Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde that the use of the powers on so many occasions was justified.
The PSNI put the increase in the use of the Section 44 of the Terrorism Act down to the high level of dissident republican threat.
Policing Board figures showed in the last three months of 2008 a total of 2,488 people were stopped and searched under Section 44 of the act — up from 722 in the same quarter of 2007.
Only 31 of the people stopped and searched were subsequently arrested.
By comparison 5,272 people were stopped and searched in the fourth quarter under PACE (Police And Criminal Evidence) regulations, the vast majority about drugs, up from the 4,324 of a year earlier.
But it was the Section 44 stop and search figures which worried the Policing Board's Human Rights and Professional Standards Committee.
Committee chairman, Basil McCrea, MLA, said "This is an issue of some concern to the committee and an area where the wider public needs assurance that the police are fully accountable in the use of stop and search powers."
The board, he said, had made a number of recommendations to the PSNI over the use of the powers and raised issues for clarification.
Mr McCrea added "Of particular concern to members was the marked increase in the use of Section 44 terrorism powers. These statistics show that in the final three months of 2008 there was a 245 per cent increase in the number of persons stopped and searched under section 44 compared to the same period in 2007."
He said Lord Carlile — the independent reviewer of British terrorism laws — had expressed the view it should not be used in England and Wales where there was an acceptable alternative under other powers.
He said: "The committee have requested greater information in relation to the use of powers under Section 44 in Northern Ireland in order to ensure that the exercise of such powers are justified, necessary and proportionate."
Sinn Fein member of the board, Assembly member Martina Anderson, said the increase was "shocking and unacceptable".
"The excessive use of these powers in England have already drawn down significant criticism from politicians and community leaders," she said.
"We need to ensure that the same misuse of these powers does not take a foothold within the PSNI."
Responding to the concerns and criticisms a PSNI spokeswoman said recent months had seen a marked increase in dissident republican action in several districts.
"This action has included a number of concerted attempts to murder police officers and had resulted in severe disruption to many communities," she said.
"All police districts have processes in place to ensure that stop and search powers are used properly and proportionally in preventing and detecting crime.
"The use of the powers is monitored across all districts and identifies the highest levels of use and reasons for the use."
The Policing Board figures showed the largest number of people stopped and searched under Section 44 were in the Co Tyrone border town of Strabane — 625.
A total of 315 stops were made in south Belfast, 280 in east Belfast, 276 in north Belfast, but only 58 in west Belfast.
Craigavon in Co Armagh saw 159 such stop and searches, 123 in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, 101 in Limavady, Co Derry, and 99 in Newry and Mourne.
PA