Fearghal Shiels from Madden & Finucane who represent former 1981 IRA hunger striker Bernard Fox and his partner Christine Fox in their successful Judicial Review of the use of section 24 of the Justice & Security Act Stop and Searches said today:

“The Chief Constable of the PSNI this morning formally abandoned an appeal against a Court of Appeal decision delivered in May this year, which stated that the use of s21 (Identity) and s24 (Searches for munitions and wireless apparatus) of the Justice and Security (NI) Act 2007, were unlawful in the absence of a Code of Practice.

“Any person who was subject to stop and search should proceed to issue civil actions against the Chief Constable concerning any stop and searches which occurred up until 15 May 2013, the date on which a Code of Practice was implemented.

“Madden & Finucane have lodged a fresh legal challenge on behalf of Derry man, Steven Ramsey, challenging the lawfulness of the Code of Practice and continued use and abuse of the power by the PSNI.

“The first hearing of the case is expected later this month when the High Court will decide whether Mr Ramsey has an arguable case.”