The Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989

PART X POLICE—GENERAL

Arrangements for obtaining the views of the community on policing

82.—(1) Arrangements shall be made for obtaining the views of people about matters concerning policing and for obtaining their co-operation with the police in preventing crime.

(2) Arrangements shall be made by the Police Authority after consulting the Chief Constable as to the arrangements that would be appropriate.

(3) The Police Authority shall review the arrangements made under this Article from time to time.

(4) If it appears to the Secretary of State that arrangements are not adequate for the purposes set out in paragraph (1), he may require the Police Authority to submit a report to him concerning the arrangements.

(5) After considering the report the Secretary of State may require the Police Authority to review the arrangements and submit a further report to him concerning them.

(6) The Police Authority shall be under the same duties to consult when reviewing arrangements as when making them.

Local inquiries

83.—(1) The Secretary of State may cause a local inquiry to be held by a person appointed by him into any matter connected with policing.

(2) Any inquiry under this Article shall be held in public or in private as the Secretary of State may direct.

(3) Section 23 of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954(1) (inquiries and investigations) shall apply as if the Secretary of State were the head of a Northern Ireland department.

(4) Where the report of the person holding an inquiry under this Article is not published, a summary of his findings and conclusions shall be made known by the Secretary of State so far as appears to him consistent with the public interest.

Police officers performing duties of higher rank

84.—(1) For the purpose of any provision of this Order or any other statutory provision under which a power in respect of the investigation of offences or the treatment of persons in police custody is exercisable only by or with the authority of a police officer of at least the rank of superintendent, an officer of the rank of chief inspector shall be treated as holding the rank of superintendent if he has been authorised by an officer of at least the rank of chief superintendent to exercise the power or, as the case may be, to give his authority for its exercise.

(2) For the purpose of any provision of this Order or any other statutory provision under which such a power is exercisable only by or with the authority of an officer of at least the rank of inspector, an officer of the rank of sergeant shall be treated as holding the rank of inspector if he has been authorised by an officer of at least the rank of chief superintendent to exercise the power or, as the case may be, to give his authority for its exercise.

(1)

1979 NI 19