Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998

Part V Functions of Secretary of State

36 General duty of Secretary of State

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.

37 Statement of policing principles

(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—

(a) the Secretary of State;

(b) the Police Authority; and

(c) the Chief Constable,

the Secretary of State shall issue a statement of the principles on which the policing of Northern Ireland is to be conducted.

(2) A statement issued under this section shall include the principle that the policing of Northern Ireland is to be conducted in an impartial manner.

(3) Before issuing a statement under this section, the Secretary of State shall consult—

(a) the Police Authority; and

(b) the Chief Constable.

(4) The Secretary of State shall lay before both Houses of Parliament any statement of principles issued by him under this section.

38 Codes of practice

(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.

(2) Before issuing or revising a code of practice under this section, the Secretary of State shall consult the Police Authority.

(3) 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.

39 Guidance as to exercise of functions by police force

(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.

(2) Before issuing or revising any guidance under this section, the Secretary of State shall consult—

(a) the Police Authority;

(b) the Chief Constable; and

(c) the Police Association.

(3) The Secretary of State shall publish any guidance issued by him under this section in such manner as he thinks appropriate.

40 Power to require use by police of specified facilities, equipment or services

(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.

(2) Before making any regulations under this section, the Secretary of State shall consult—

(a) the Police Authority;

(b) the Chief Constable; and

(c) the Police Association.

(3) Before making any regulations under this section relating to information technology, the Secretary of State shall consult the Police Information Technology Organisation.

(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.

41 Appointment of inspectors of constabulary

(1) The Secretary of State may appoint from among Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Constabulary appointed under section 54 of the [1996 c. 16.] Police Act 1996 such number of inspectors of constabulary for Northern Ireland as he may determine.

(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.

(3) The inspectors may inspect and report to the Secretary of State on the efficiency and effectiveness of the National Criminal Intelligence Service.

(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.

(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.

42 Publication of reports of inspectors of constabulary

(1) Subject to subsection (2), the Secretary of State shall arrange for any report received by him under section 41(2) or (3) to be published in such manner as appears to him to be appropriate.

(2) The Secretary of State may exclude from publication under subsection (1) any part of a report if, in his opinion, the publication of that part—

(a) would be against the interests of national security or prejudicial to public order; or

(b) might jeopardise the safety of any person.

(3) The Secretary of State shall send a copy of the published report to—

(a) the Police Authority; and

(b) the Chief Constable.

(4) The Police Authority shall invite the Chief Constable to submit comments on the published report to the Authority before such date as it may specify.

(5) The Police Authority shall prepare comments on the published report and shall arrange for—

(a) its comments;

(b) any comments submitted by the Chief Constable in accordance with subsection (4); and

(c) any response which the Authority has to the comments submitted by the Chief Constable,

to be published in such manner as appears to the Authority to be appropriate.

(6) The Police Authority shall send a copy of any document published under subsection (5) to the Secretary of State.

(7) Subsections (3) to (6) shall apply in relation to a report relating to the National Criminal Intelligence Service as if—

(a) references to the Police Authority were references to the Service Authority for the National Criminal Intelligence Service; and

(b) references to the Chief Constable were references to the Director General of the National Criminal Intelligence Service.

43 Criminal statistics

(1) The Chief Constable shall, at such times and in such form as the Secretary of State may direct, transmit to the Secretary of State such particulars with respect to offences, offenders, criminal proceedings and the state of crime in Northern Ireland as the Secretary of State may require.

(2) The Secretary of State shall cause an abstract of the information transmitted to him under this section to be prepared and published in such manner as he thinks appropriate.

44 Inquiries

(1) The Secretary of State may cause an inquiry to be held by a person appointed by him into any matter connected with policing.

(2) An inquiry under this section shall be held in public or in private as the Secretary of State may direct.

(3) Schedule 8 to the [1972 NI 14.] Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 (inquiries and investigations) shall apply to an inquiry under this section with the substitution for references to the Ministry of references to the Secretary of State.

(4) Where the report of the person holding an inquiry under this section is not published, a summary of his findings and conclusions shall be made known by the Secretary of State so far as appears to him consistent with the public interest.

45 Research and advice

(1) The Secretary of State may set up such bodies and take such other steps as appear to him to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of undertaking research into matters affecting the efficiency and effectiveness of the Northern Ireland Police Service.

(2) The Secretary of State may set up such bodies as appear to him to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of advising him on matters affecting the efficiency and effectiveness of the Northern Ireland Police Service.

46 Expenditure by Secretary of State for police purposes

The Secretary of State may—

(a) make such contribution to the provision or maintenance of such organisations, facilities and services; and

(b) make such other payments,

as he thinks necessary or expedient for promoting the efficiency and effectiveness of the Northern Ireland Police Service.