Police (Northern Ireland) Bill - continued        House of Commons

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  PART VIII
  THE POLICE OMBUDSMAN
Reports by Ombudsman to Chief Constable and Board.     59. - (1) After section 61 of the 1998 Act there shall be inserted-
 
 
"Reports to Chief Constable and Board.     61A. - (1) The Ombudsman may make to the Chief Constable and the Board a report on any matters concerning the practices and policies of the police force which-
 
    (a) come to the Ombudsman's attention under this Part; and
 
    (b) should, in the opinion of the Ombudsman, be drawn to the attention of the Chief Constable and the Board."
      (2) In section 63 of the 1998 Act (restriction on disclosure of information), after subsection (2) there shall be inserted-
 
 
    "(2A) Subsection (1) does not prevent the Ombudsman, to such extent as he thinks it necessary to do so in the public interest, from disclosing in a report under section 61A-
 
 
    (a) the identity of an individual, or
 
    (b) information from which the identity of an individual may be established."
Supply of information by Ombudsman to Board.     60. After section 61A of the 1998 Act there shall be inserted-
 
 
"Supply of information by Ombudsman to Board.     61AA. - (1) The Ombudsman shall compile, and supply the Board with, such statistical information as is required to enable the Board to carry out its functions under section 3(3)(c)(i) of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000.
 
    (2) The Ombudsman shall consult the Board as to-
 
 
    (a) the information to be supplied under subsection (1); and
 
    (b) the form in which such information is to be supplied.
      (3) The Ombudsman shall supply the Board with any other general information which the Ombudsman considers should be brought to the attention of the Board in connection with its functions under section 3(3)(c)(i) of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000."
 
Time limit for complaints and references to Ombudsman.     61. In section 64 of the 1998 Act (regulations) after subsection (2) there shall be inserted-
 
 
    "(2A) The Secretary of State may by regulations provide that, subject to such exceptions as may be prescribed-
 
 
    (a) this Part shall not apply to a complaint about the conduct of a member of the police force which took place more than the prescribed period before the date on which the complaint is made or referred to the Ombudsman under section 52(1);
 
    (b) the Ombudsman shall not investigate any matter referred to him under section 55(1), (2) or (4) if the actions, behaviour or conduct to which the matter relates took place more than the prescribed period before the date on which the reference is made;
 
    (c) the Ombudsman shall not at any time commence a formal investigation under section 55(6) of any matter if the actions or behaviour to which the matter relates took place more than the prescribed period before that time."
Access by Ombudsman to information and documents.     62. The Chief Constable and the Board shall supply the Ombudsman with such information and documents as the Ombudsman may require for the purposes of, or in connection with, the exercise of any of his functions.
 
 
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