A Derry man has claimed his seven-year-old daughter has become “petrified” as a result of police constantly stopping and search himself and his wife.
Steven Ramsey, from Creggan, is now seeking to challenge the validity of police stop and search powers after he was subjected to around “200 searches in the past five years.”
Mr Ramsey concedes he was a member of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement but stresses he is no longer associated with any group and has not convictions.
He claims he has been stopped around 40 times this year.
His lawyers, Madden & Finucane, will put the case to the High Court later this month.
Mr Ramsey says he has logged dates, times and locations of searches which he claims have left his daughter “petrified.”
Mr Ramsey said: “At the start it was just me, then they started on my wife too. Once they see her they take a U-turn to stop and search her. My seven-year-old wee girl is petrified.
“I’ve never been charged with anything and nothing has ever been found in my car. It’s just harassment.”
A PSNI say its use of stop and search has, and will continue to be, scrutinised by the Policing Board’s Human Rights adviser and the independent reviewer of the Justice and Security NI Act 2007.
The police spokesperson added: “Any member of the public who has a complaint in relation to stop and search can bring it to the police ombudsman who will conduct a full and independent investigation.”
Last month, the police abandoned a planned Supreme court challenge to a ruling that stop, search and question operations involving a former iRA hunger striker and a brother-in-law of Martin McGuinness were unlawful.
Senior judges in Belfast were told an appeal by the Chief Constable and Secretary of State in the cases of Bernard Fox and Derry man Marvin Canning were no longer being pursued.
Both men are now to press ahead with claims for damages against the PSNi, with Mr Canning’s lawyer disclosing he has been stopped more than 100 times.
Earlier this year the Court of Appeal held there was a lack of adequate safeguards against potential abuse of the system used under the Justice and Security (Northern ire-land) Act 2007.
Mr Canning said the stop and question powers were incompatible with his right to privacy under European law.
The 55-year-old, who is related to the Deputy First Minister through marriage, alleged officers were sometimes oppressive and confrontational.
He denies any involvement in terrorism but confirmed he is a member of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement, stating it is not an illegal organisation.
Tags: