Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2011

Functions of DPCSP

22.—(1) The functions of a DPCSP shall be—

(a) to provide views to the relevant district commander and to the principal PCSP on any matter concerning the policing of the police district;

(b) to monitor the performance of the police in carrying out—

(i) the policing plan in relation to the police district; and

(ii) the local policing plan applying to the police district;

(c) to make arrangements for obtaining the co-operation of the public with the police in preventing crime and enhancing community safety in the police district;

(d) to make arrangements for obtaining the views of the public about matters concerning the policing of the police district and enhancing community safety in the police district and to consider fully any views so obtained;

(e) to act as a general forum for discussion and consultation on matters affecting the policing of the police district and enhancing community safety in the police district;

(f) to prepare plans for reducing crime and enhancing community safety in the police district;

(g) to identify targets or other indicators by reference to which it can assess the extent to which those issues are addressed by action taken in accordance with any such plans;

(h) to provide any such financial or other support as it considers appropriate to persons involved in ventures designed to reduce crime or enhance community safety in the police district;

(i) such other functions as are conferred on it by any other statutory provision.

(2) The functions of a DPCSP mentioned in subsection (1)(a), (b) and (c)—

(a) are referred to in this Part as its “restricted functions”; and

(b) must be exercised, on behalf of the DPCSP, by the policing committee of the DPCSP.

(3) References in this section to enhancing community safety in a police district are to making the police district one in which it is, and is perceived to be, safer to live and work, in particular by the reduction of actual and perceived levels of crime and other anti-social behaviour.

(4) In exercising its functions, a DPCSP shall have regard to the code of practice under section 23.

(5) If the principal PCSP is satisfied that a DPCSP is carrying out any of the DPCSP’s functions in relation to a police district, the PCSP is not required to carry out any corresponding function it has in relation to the part of its district comprising the police district.

(6) But subsection (5) does not prevent the principal PCSP exercising its functions in relation to the whole of the district where it appears to the principal PCSP to be necessary or appropriate to do so.