Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) These regulations may be cited as the Police Trainee (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003.

(2) These regulations shall come into operation on 10th November 2003.

(3) In these regulations “the 2001 regulations” means the Police Trainee Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001(2).

Conditions for appointment as constable

2.  For regulation 3 of the 2001 regulations there shall be substituted –

“Conditions for appointment as constable

3.—(1) A person shall not be appointed to the rank of constable in the Police Service of Northern Ireland unless –

(a)he fulfils the first set of conditions, or

(b)he is designated by the Chief Constable as an experienced police trainee, and fulfils the second set of conditions.

(2) The Chief Constable may designate as an experienced police trainee any person who has –

(a)completed any such training in policing matters as may be recognised by the Chief Constable, or

(b)obtained any such qualification in policing matters as may be so recognised.

(3) The first set of conditions is that the person –

(a)has completed a period of service as a police trainee of 145 days or such longer period as may be specified by the Chief Constable,

(b)has obtained such qualification in police studies as may be specified by the Chief Constable, and

(c)has completed, to such standard as the Chief Constable considers satisfactory, such other training for service as a police officer as may be specified by the Chief Constable.

(4) The second set of conditions is that the person –

(a)has completed such period of service as a police trainee as may be specified by the Chief Constable, and

(b)has completed, to such standard as the Chief Constable considers satisfactory, such training for service as a police officer as may be specified by the Chief Constable.

(5) In deciding whether to recognise training for the purposes of paragraph (2), the Chief Constable shall have regard, among the matters which are relevant, to –

(a)the nature, standard and duration of the training,

(b)the relevance of the training to service as a member of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, and

(c)such matters as may be specified by the Board.

(6) In deciding whether to recognise a qualification for the purposes of paragraph (2), the Chief Constable shall have regard, among the matters which are relevant, to –

(a)the nature and level of the qualification,

(b)the relevance of the qualification to service as a member of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, and

(c)such matters as may be specified by the Board.”

Consequential amendments

3.—(1) In regulation 4(1) of the 2001 regulations (meaning of “training”) –

(a)in sub-paragraph (a) for “3(b)” substitute “3(3)(b)”; and

(b)in sub-paragraph (c) for “3(c)” substitute “3(3)(c) or (4)(b)”.

(2) In regulation 5 of the 2001 regulations (extending period of service of police trainee) –

(a)for paragraph (1) there shall be substituted –

“(1) The powers of the Chief Constable under regulation 3 may be exercised differently for different cases and circumstances”; and

(b)in paragraph (2) –

(i)for “the qualification specified under regulation 3(b)” there shall be substituted “a qualification specified under regulation 3(3)(b)”;

(ii)for “3(c)” there shall be substituted “3(3)(c) or (4)(b)”; and

(iii)for “3(a)” there shall be substituted “3(3)(a) or (4)(a)”.

(3) In regulation 7(4) of the 2001 regulations (standing orders to make provision for training) –

(a)in sub-paragraph (a) for “3(b)” there shall be substituted “3(3)(b)”; and

(b)in sub-paragraph (b) for “3(c)” there shall be substituted “3(3)(c) or (4)(b)”.

(4) In regulation 11 of the 2001 regulations (leave) –

(a)in paragraph (1)(a) after “leave” there shall be inserted “in a period of service of 145 days,”;

(b)paragraph (2) (increase in leave proportionate to longer period of service) for “a longer period of service for a police trainee under regulation 3(a)” there shall be substituted “for a police trainee under regulation 3(3)(a) or (4)(a) a period of service longer than 145 days”; and

(c)after paragraph (2) insert –

“(2A) Where the Chief Constable specifies for a police trainee under regulation 3(4) a period of service shorter than 145 days, the number of days specified in paragraph (1)(a) shall be reduced proportionately for the police trainee.”

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These regulations amend the Police Trainee Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001 by allowing the Chief Constable to impose different requirements as to the period of service and training for police trainees with previous policing experience.