PSNI stop-and-searches to stop?

A BBC report is predicting that

The PSNI is to suspend the use of the powers which allowed them to search people suspected of being involved in terrorist activity.

It follows the recent European Court rejection of the UK government’s appeal against a January 2010 ruling that section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 violated the right to respect for private life.

I’ve already noted the massive increase here in the numbers of stop-and-searches taking place between 2005 to 2009.

But would such a change in policy make life more difficult for Chief Constable Matt Baggott…

Adds From the updated BBC report

A PSNI spokesperson said that stop and search “remains an essential tool in countering the terrorist threat”.

“We use stop and search powers differently in Northern Ireland to the rest of the UK both in terms of the proximity of the threat that we face and degree of targeted use that we make of them,” the spokesperson said.

“We will continue to utilise available legislation in protection of the public and will do so in cooperation and consultation with the community we serve.”