A BELFAST man has hit out after his 10-year-old daughter was 'questioned' by police during a stop and search operation.
Matt Johnston said he, the schoolgirl and a friend were stopped under the Justice and Security Act as they drove along the Falls Road at around 6pm on Monday.
The north Belfast man, who describes himself as a republican, claimed that after being ordered from the vehicle a female officer approached his daughter as he spoke to another officer and asked for her name and date of birth.
Mr Johnston said he became aware of the approach after a resident brought it to his attention and took a photograph.
The picture shows an officer standing close to the child with a notebook in her hand while Mr Johnston stands with his back to the girl.
He claimed when he challenged the officer she refused to remove the child’s name from the notebook but claimed it would not be included in any report.
He accused police of being "underhand".
“I put her against a wall, away from traffic and them, and when they managed to distract me that’s when they slipped in.”
Mr Johnston said his daughter was left frightened by the incident and asked him why she had been singled out.
He said he believes the PSNI are deliberately targeting the children of republicans during stop and search operations.
Risteard Ó Murchu of Saoradh, a new republican party, also condemned the operation.
He complained to the Police Ombudsman last month after his teenage daughter and 12-year-old son were involved in a stop and search operation as he left them to school.
"Saoradh demand that the children's commissioner publicly condemns the intimidation of children by armed agents of the state, and we call for her to meet with a party delegation to discuss this ongoing injustice further."
Chief Inspector Norman Haslett last night said officers had offered to speak to the driver out of view and earshot of the child, who he claimed left the car voluntarily during a search.
He also said officers asked the driver if the child wanted to get back into the car due to the cold but this was declined.
Mr Haslett confirmed that a female officer did speak to the child but did not reveal what was said.
“In instances such as this, the welfare of children needs to be everyone’s concern and I have reinforced to my officers the need to be protective of young people and that they are not suspects,” he said.
He also defended the "appropriate and sensitive" use of stop and search powers to tackle crime and ensure community safety.
Sinn Féin MLA Paul Maskey said the picture appeared to show a young girl "being questioned by the PSNI" and it had contacted the force to strongly criticise the actions.
“This is unacceptable policing. The human rights of children should not be abused and children should be free from intimidation from anyone including action such as this by the PSNI."
