Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998

61 Reports

(1) The Ombudsman shall, at the request of the Secretary of State, report to the Secretary of State on such matters relating generally to the functions of the Ombudsman as the Secretary of State may specify, and the Ombudsman may for that purpose carry out research into any such matters.

(2) The Ombudsman may make a report to the Secretary of State on any matters coming to the Ombudsman’s attention under this Part to which the Ombudsman considers that the Secretary of State’s attention should be drawn in the public interest.

(3) The Ombudsman shall, not later than 3 months after the end of each financial year, make to the Secretary of State a report on the discharge of the Ombudsman’s functions during that year.

(4) The Ombudsman shall—

(a) keep under review the working of this Part; and

(b) at least once every five years, make a report on it to the Secretary of State.

(5) The Ombudsman shall send a copy of any report under this section to—

(a) the Police Authority and the Chief Constable; and

(b) if the report concerns any such body of constables as is mentioned in section 60, to the authority maintaining it and the officer having the direction and control of it.

(6) The Secretary of State shall—

(a) lay before both Houses of Parliament a copy of every report received by him under this section; and

(b) cause every such report to be published.

(7) The Ombudsman shall send to the Police Authority any statistical or other general information which the Ombudsman considers should be brought to the attention of the Police Authority in connection with its functions under section 2(4)(a).