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PART V |
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FUNCTIONS OF SECRETARY OF STATE |
| General duty of Secretary of State. |
36. The Secretary of State shall exercise his powers under this Act in such manner and to such extent as appears to him to be best calculated to promote the efficiency and effectiveness of the Northern Ireland Police Service.
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| Statement of policing principles. |
37. - (1) For the purpose of providing a common set of aims, values and aspirations in connection with the exercise of their respective functions under this Act by-
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(a) the Secretary of State; |
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(b) the Police Authority; and |
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the Secretary of State may issue a statement of the principles on which the policing of Northern Ireland is to be conducted.
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(2) The Secretary of State shall lay before both Houses of Parliament any statement of principles issued by him under this section.
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| Codes of practice. |
38. - (1) The Secretary of State may issue, and from time to time revise, codes of practice relating to the discharge by the Police Authority of any of its functions.
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(2) The Secretary of State shall publish a copy of any code of practice and of any revision of a code of practice issued by him under this section in such manner as he thinks appropriate.
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| Guidance as to exercise of functions by police force. |
39. - (1) The Secretary of State may issue, and from time to time revise, general guidance as to the exercise by members of the police force of any of their functions.
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(2) The Secretary of State shall publish any guidance issued by him under this section in such manner as he thinks appropriate.
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| Power to require use by police of specified facilities, equipment or services. |
40. - (1) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for requiring the police force to use specified facilities, equipment or services, or facilities, equipment or services of a specified description, if he considers that it would be in the interests of the efficiency or effectiveness of the police force for it to do so.
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(2) Before making any regulations under this section, the Secretary of State shall consult-
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(a) the Police Authority; |
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(b) the Chief Constable; and |
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(c) the Police Association. |
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(3) Before making any regulations under this section relating to information technology, the Secretary of State shall consult the Police Information Technology Organisation.
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(4) In subsection (3) "information technology" includes any computer or other technology by means of which information or other matter may be recorded or communicated without being reduced to documentary form.
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| Appointment of inspectors of constabulary. |
41. - (1) The Secretary of State may appoint from among Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary appointed under section 54 of the Police Act 1996 such number of inspectors of constabulary for Northern Ireland as he may determine.
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(2) The inspectors shall at least once in every year inspect and report to the Secretary of State on the efficiency and effectiveness of the Northern Ireland Police Service.
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(3) The inspectors may inspect and report to the Secretary of State on the efficiency and effectiveness of the National Criminal Intelligence Service.
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(4) The inspectors shall carry out such other duties for the purpose of furthering the efficiency and effectiveness of the Northern Ireland Police Service and make such other reports as the Secretary of State may from time to time direct.
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(5) Any expenditure incurred for the purposes of or in connection with an inspection under this section shall be defrayed by the Secretary of State.
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