North: Stop-and-searches numbered 15,000 in 2003

Nearly 15,000 people were stopped and searched by police or members of the British Army in Northern Ireland last year, new figures have shown.

Sinn Féin have labelled the statistics as "shocking, but not surprising" and accused the police of using repressive measures.

The British Army carried out more than two thirds of the 14,910 stop-and-searches in the past year, with 4,000 carried out by police.

A Sinn Féin spokesperson said the figures show the British Army and police have used their powers "with relish, far from the reforms proposed in the Patten Report".

Catríona Ruane also criticised the SDLP for endorsing the current policing arrangements, and said her party would not do the same until there were structures in place to hold officers accountable.