The cash-strapped PSNI has paid out a “significant” five-figure sum to a group of nationalists and republicans subjected to unlawful stop and search operations.
It is understood the payments were made to 13 people and a child before Christmas.
Another case involving a child has yet to be settled.
The use of stop and search powers by the police have been controversial in the past with concerns raised that the Catholic community is disproportionally targeted.
The payouts came after 115 people were stopped and searched under the Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act (2007) without correct approval over a short period in 2020.
The PSNI later apologised as it emerged that linked paperwork had been signed off by someone who was not properly authorised.
Police later said they wrote to those impacted “to inform them the stop-and-searches were invalid and to apologise for any inconvenience caused”.
Solicitor Gavin Booth, of Phoenix Law, welcomed “the resolution of these cases which have now settled in our clients favour for a significant sum each”.
“The use of stop and searches under terrorism powers are in our view an exercise designed to cause distress to those being stopped,” he said.
“This legislation gives officers the power to stop and search without suspicion.
“We believe these powers should now be abolished or should require greater checks and balances to make sure any stop is done so in accordance with the law.”
A spokesman for the PSNI said the force is “fully committed to ensuring the fair, effective and legitimate use of stop and search powers”.
“These are vital in helping us prevent, detect and investigate crime and help us protect communities throughout Northern Ireland to keep everyone safe,” he said.
“These powers are only used when deemed appropriate by the individual officers who are driven by reports from members of the public and by information relating to specific crimes or crime trends.
“There are clear legal and operational guidelines which officers must comply with for every search.”
The spokesman added that the force is “acutely aware that stop and search is a sensitive issue for our communities and can assure the public that we have processes in place to ensure that stop and search is used effectively and proportionately.
“We would not be in a position to discuss individual cases,” he said.
He added that the PSNI “continually review our practices and training and have a number of governance groups to ensure police powers, including stop and search, are being used fairly and effectively”.
“Regular updates are provided in relation to stop and search to the Northern Ireland Policing Board, who hold us to account in terms of the use of these and other powers,” he added.
