PSNI carry out a review of warning scheme
Thousands of warning notices handed out to members of the public by the PSNI could be overturned as part of a review into their use.
The review of Police Information Notices (PIN) was launched in March after a legal challenge was brought by pro-life campaigners opposed to the Marie Stopes clinic in Belfast.
The PSNI last night confirmed that every PIN in the north is currently being reviewed.
More than 1,962 notices have been issued in Belfast policing district alone.
Previously the notices were given to people when allegations of harassment were made.
The notices remained on file and could be used by police as evidence in later criminal or civil proceedings.
Police say a special review team has been set up to look at notices previously handed out in Belfast while notices issued outside the city will be re-examined by officers locally.
It is understood that previously an individual could not refuse to accept a notice and had no right of appeal.
The legal challenge was brought after dozens of PINs were handed out to pro-life campaigners opposed to the work of the pro-abortion Marie Stopes clinic in Belfast.
It is understood that since the review began an anonymous pro-life campaigner at the centre of the legal challenge has already had four PINs withdrawn.
News of the review comes just days after it emerged that the Public Prosecution Service has withdrawn charges of harassment against three members of pro life group Precious Life including director Bernadette Smyth.
Earlier this year Ms Smyth won an appeal against a conviction for harassment outside the clinic when a judge ruled her presence outside the clinic was not a criminal offence.
Solicitor Aiden Carlin said dozens of PINs have needlessly been handed out to pro life campaigners in recent years.
"For two years the pro-life movement has held a peaceful and dignified protest every week outside Marie Stopes," he said.
Mr Carlin said harassment legislation should not be used against legitimate protesters.
He added: "although harassment legislation was introduced in Northern Ireland to protect people from stalkers, in recent years it has been used as a weapon ... to silence legitimate opposition."
A spokesman for the PSNI said: "The PIN review is retrospective in application and a review of each PIN is ongoing.
"The intention of the review is to ensure that those PINs retained on police systems are proportionate, justifiable and compliant with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998."