Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998

18 General functions of the police force

(1) It shall be the general duty of members of the police force—

(a) to protect life and property;

(b) to preserve order;

(c) to prevent the commission of offences;

(d) where an offence has been committed, to take measures to bring the offender to justice.

(2) A member of the police force shall have all the powers and privileges of a constable throughout Northern Ireland and the adjacent United Kingdom waters.

(3) In subsection (2)—

(a) the reference to the powers and privileges of a constable is a reference to all the powers and privileges for the time being exercisable by a constable whether at common law or under any statutory provision;

(b) “United Kingdom waters” means the sea and other waters within the seaward limits of the territorial sea;

and that subsection, so far as it relates to the powers under any statutory provision, makes them exercisable throughout the adjacent United Kingdom waters whether or not the statutory provision applies to those waters apart from that subsection.

(4) Section 19 of the [1973 c. 36] Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (discrimination by public authorities) shall apply to members of the police force in the discharge of their functions as such.