Subject to the following provisions of this section, a member of the police force shall not be a member of any trade union, or of any association having for its objects, or one of its objects, to control or influence the pay, pensions or conditions of service of any police force.

Where a person was a member of a trade union before becoming a member of the police force he may, with the consent of the Chief Constable, continue to be a member of that union during the time of his service in the police force.

In this section “trade union” has the meaning assigned to it by Article 3(1) of the M1Industrial Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1992; and if any question arises whether any body is a trade union or an association to which this section applies, the question shall be determined by the Certification Officer for Northern Ireland.

Nothing in this section applies to membership of the Police Association or of any body recognised by the F1Department of Justice for the purposes of this section as representing members of the police force who are not members of the Police Association.