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Session 1999-2000
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Police (Northern Ireland) Bill

This is the text of the Police (Northern Ireland) Bill, as presented to the House of Commons on 16th May 2000.

 
EXPLANATORY NOTES

Explanatory Notes to the Bill, prepared by the Northern Ireland Office, are published separately as Bill 125- EN.


EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Mr Secretary Mandelson has made the following statement under section 19(1)(a) of the Human Rights Act 1998:

In my view the provisions of the Police (Northern Ireland) Bill are compatible with the Convention rights.


 
  
Police (Northern Ireland) Bill
 
 
 
 
ARRANGEMENT OF CLAUSES

PART I
THE NORTHERN IRELAND POLICING BOARD
Clause 
1.The Northern Ireland Policing Board.
2.General functions of the Board.
3.Police support staff.
4.Power to transfer certain staff to employment of Board.
5.Provision and maintenance of buildings and equipment.
6.Acquisition and disposal of land by Board.
7.Provision of advice and assistance to international organisations, etc.
8.Grants to, and borrowing by, the Board.
9.Funding for police purposes - ancillary provisions.
10.Charges for special services.
11.Accounts and audit.
12.Rewards for diligence.

PART II
DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY POLICING ARRANGEMENTS
District policing partnerships
13.Establishment of district policing partnerships.
14.Default of council.
15.General functions of district policing partnerships.
16.Annual report by district policing partnership to council.
17.Reports by district policing partnership to Board.
18.Code of practice for district policing partnerships.

Police districts
19.Police districts.
20.The local policing plan.

Other community policing arrangements
21.Other community policing arrangements.

PART III
POLICING OBJECTIVES, PLANS AND CODES OF PRACTICE
22.The Secretary of State's policing objectives.
23.The Board's policing objectives.
24.The Board's policing plan.
25.Codes of practice on exercise of functions.

PART IV
ECONOMY, EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS
26.Arrangements relating to economy, efficiency and effectiveness.
27.Audit of performance plans.
28.Examinations
29.Enforcement of duties under section 26.

PART V
THE POLICE FORCE
General functions
30.General functions of the police force.

Members of the police force
31.General functions of Chief Constable.
32.Exercise of functions of Chief Constable in cases of absence, incapacity, etc.
33.Appointment and removal of senior officers of the police service.
34.Appointment and promotion of other members of the police service.
35.Appointments to the police service reserve.
36.Attestation of constables.

Trainees and cadets
37.Appointment of police service trainees.
38.Appointment of police service reserve trainees.
39.Status, etc. of trainees.
40.Police cadets.

Recruitment arrangements
41.Contracting-out of certain recruitment functions of Chief Constable.
42.Recruitment arrangements.

Temporary provisions concerning composition of police force
43.Discrimination in appointments.
44.Expiry, renewal and repeal of temporary provisions.
45.Severance arrangements.

General
46.Service by members of the police service reserve with other police services.
47.Registration of associations.
48.Code of Ethics.
49.Guidance as to use of equipment for maintaining or restoring public order.
50.Regulations as to emblems and flags.
51.Identification of members of the police force.
52.Co-operation with police force of Republic of Ireland.

PART VI
REPORTS AND INQUIRIES
53.Annual and other reports by Board to Secretary of State.
54.Annual report by Chief Constable to Board.
55.General duty of Chief Constable to report to Board.
56.Inquiry by Board following report by Chief Constable.
57.Reports by Chief Constable to Secretary of State.

PART VII
THE POLICE OMBUDSMAN
58.Reports by Ombudsman to Chief Constable and Board.
59.Supply of information by Ombudsman to Board.
60.Time limit for complaints and references to Ombudsman.
61.Access by Ombudsman to information and documents.

PART VIII
MISCELLANEOUS AND SUPPLEMENTARY
Miscellaneous
62.General duty of Secretary of State.
63.The Royal Ulster Constabulary GC Foundation.
64.Appointment of traffic wardens.
65.Video recording of interviews.
66.Application to police of anti-discrimination legislation.

Supplementary
67.Expenses of Secretary of State.
68.Orders and regulations.
69.Interpretation.
70.Amendments, transitional and transitory provisions and repeals.
71.Commencement.
72.Extent.
73.Short title.
 

SCHEDULES:
    Schedule 1-The Northern Ireland Policing Board.
    Part I-Status and membership.
    Part II-Membership during suspension of devolved government.
    Part III-Membership during devolved government.
    Part IV-Staff.
    Part V-Funding.
    Part VI-Procedure.
    Schedule 2-Transfer of functions, assets, liabilities and staff of Police Authority for Northern Ireland.
    Schedule 3-District policing partnerships.
    Schedule 4-Application of anti-discrimination legislation to the police.
    Schedule 5-Amendments.
    Schedule 6-Transitional and transitory provisions.
    Schedule 7-Repeals.
 


 
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© Parliamentary copyright 2000
Prepared 16 May 2000