The Terrorism Act 2000 (Alterations to the Search Powers Code for Northern Ireland) Order 2024
On 2nd December 2024, the UK government introduced the Terrorism Act 2000 (Alterations to the Search Powers Code for Northern Ireland) Order 2024. This order makes significant alterations to the Search Powers Code for Northern Ireland, which was introduced in 2000 as part of the Terrorism Act 2000.
The main purpose of the order is to enhance the powers of police and security forces in Northern Ireland to search for and seize evidence of terrorism-related activity. The order introduces a number of new powers, including:
- The power to search any person or vehicle without a warrant if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that they may be involved in terrorism-related activity.
- The power to search any premises without a warrant if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that they may be used for terrorism-related activity.
- The power to seize and retain any property that may be evidence of terrorism-related activity.
The order also makes a number of changes to the existing search powers, including:
- Extending the period of time that police and security forces can hold a person without charge from 48 hours to 72 hours.
- Allowing police and security forces to search a person or vehicle without their consent if they are arrested under suspicion of terrorism-related activity.
- Allowing police and security forces to search a person or vehicle without their consent if they are stopped under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
The order has been welcomed by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), which has said that it will “enhance our ability to keep people safe from terrorism”. However, the order has also been criticized by human rights groups, which have said that it will “erode civil liberties” and “create a climate of fear and suspicion”.
The order is currently being debated by the UK Parliament. It is expected to be passed into law in the coming weeks.
The Terrorism Act 2000 (Alterations to the Search Powers Code for Northern Ireland) Order 2024
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