Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998

17 The Police Authority’s annual policing plan

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

(2) The annual policing plan shall include a statement of the Police Authority’s priorities for the year, of the financial resources expected to be available to the Authority and of the proposed allocation of those resources by the Authority, and shall give particulars of—

(a) any objectives determined by the Secretary of State under section 14;

(b) any objectives determined by the Police Authority under section 15; and

(c) any performance targets established by the Police Authority under that section.

(3) A draft of the annual policing plan shall be submitted by the Chief Constable to the Police Authority for it to consider.

(4) The Police Authority may adopt an annual policing plan either—

(a) in the form of the draft submitted under subsection (3); or

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

(5) Before issuing an annual policing plan adopted by it under subsection (4), the Police Authority shall consult the Secretary of State.

(6) The Police Authority shall arrange for every annual policing plan issued by it under this section to be published in such manner as appears to it to be appropriate.