SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 3Amendments relating to policing

Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998

I132

1

Amend section 61127 (reports by Ombudsman) as follows.

2

In subsections (1) and (2)—

a

for “Secretary of State” (wherever occurring) substitute “appropriate authority”;

b

for “Secretary of State’s” substitute “appropriate authority’s”.

3

After subsection (2) insert—

2A

In subsections (1) and (2) “the appropriate authority” means, in relation to any matter—

a

the Secretary of State, if the matter relates (in whole or in part other than incidentally) to an excepted matter or reserved matter or to a function conferred or imposed on the Secretary of State by or under a statutory provision;

b

otherwise, the Department of Justice;

and in paragraph (a) “excepted matter” and “reserved matter” have the meanings given by section 4 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

4

In subsections (3) and (4) for “Secretary of State” substitute “Department of Justice”.

5

After subsection (5) insert—

5A

The Department of Justice shall—

a

lay before the Northern Ireland Assembly a copy of every report received by the Department under this section; and

b

cause every such report to be published.

5B

Section 41(3) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954128 applies for the purposes of subsection (5A)(a) in relation to the laying of a copy of a report as it applies in relation to the laying of a statutory document under an enactment.