Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000

Part IVN.I. Policing objectives, plans and codes of practice

24 The [F1Department of Justice’s] long term policing objectives.N.I.

(1)The [F2Department of Justice] may determine, and from time to time revise, long term objectives for the policing of Northern Ireland.

[F3(2)Before determining or revising any objectives under this section, the [F4Department of Justice] shall consult the Board with a view to obtaining its agreement to the proposed objectives or revision.

(2A)Before determining or revising any objectives under this section, the [F5Department of Justice] shall also consult—

(a)the Chief Constable;

(b)the Ombudsman;

(c)the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission;

(d)the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland; and

(e)such other persons as the [F5Department of Justice] considers appropriate.]

(3)The [F6Department of Justice] shall lay before [F7the Northern Ireland Assembly] a statement of any objectives determined or revised under this section.

[F8(4)Section 41(3) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 applies for the purposes of subsection (3) in relation to the laying of a statement as it applies in relation to the laying of a statutory document under an enactment.]

25 The Board’s policing objectives.N.I.

(1)The Board shall determine, and may from time to time revise, objectives for the policing of Northern Ireland.

(2)Objectives under this section may relate to matters to which objectives under section 24 also relate, or to other matters, F9...

(3)Before determining or revising objectives under this section, the Board shall—

[F10(aa)take account of any objectives under section 24;]

(a)consult the Chief Constable and the [F11policing committees of policing and community safety partnerships]; and

[F12(b)consider—

(i)any reports received by the Board under Part 3 of the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2011; and

(ii)any views of the public obtained under arrangements made under that Part.]

26 The Board’s policing plan.N.I.

(1)The Board shall, before the beginning of each financial year, issue a plan (“the policing plan”) setting out proposed arrangements for the policing of Northern Ireland.

(2)The policing plan shall—

(a)contain an assessment of the requirements for educating and training police officers and members of the police support staff and give particulars of the way in which those requirements are to be met; and

(b)include such other statements and give particulars of such other matters as may be prescribed by regulations made by the [F13Department of Justice].

(3)Before making regulations under subsection (2)(b), the [F14Department of Justice] shall consult the Board and the Chief Constable.

(4)A draft of the policing plan shall be submitted by the Chief Constable to the Board for it to consider.

(5)The Board may adopt a policing plan either—

(a)in the form of the draft submitted under subsection (4); or

(b)with such amendments as the Board may, after consultation with the Chief Constable, determine.

(6)Before issuing a policing plan adopted under subsection (5), the Board shall consult the [F15Department of Justice].

(7)The Board shall arrange for the policing plan issued under this section to be published in such manner as appears to the Board to be appropriate.

27 Codes of practice on exercise of functions.N.I.

(1)The [F16Department of Justice] may issue, and from time to time revise, codes of practice relating to the discharge—

(a)by the Board of any of its functions;

(b)by the Chief Constable of any functions which he exercises—

(i)on behalf of and in the name of the Board;

(ii)in relation to funds put at his disposal under [F17section 10(4A) or (5)] ; or

(iii)under section 26 or Part V.

[F18(2)Before issuing or revising a code of practice under this section, the [F19Department of Justice] shall consult the Board with a view to obtaining its agreement to the proposed code of practice or revision.

(2A)Before issuing or revising a code of practice under this section, the [F20Department of Justice] shall also consult—

(a)the Chief Constable;

(b)the Ombudsman;

(c)the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission;

(d)the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland; and

(e)such other persons as the [F20Department of Justice] considers appropriate.]

(3)The [F21Department of Justice] shall publish any code of practice issued or revised under this section in such manner as [F22the Department of Justice] thinks appropriate.