Statewatch News online: Northern Ireland - Police (NI) Bill (amendments)

28 March 2012

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Statewatch's list of suggested amendments to the Police (Northern Ireland) Bill:

Throughout the Police (Northern Ireland) Bill replace "police force" with "police service" and "District policing partnerships" with "District Policing Partnership Boards".

2(2)(c) Add comma after `efficient', delete `and' and add after `effective' `and are trained (and updated as required) in the fundamental principles and standards of human rights and the practical implications for policing.'

2(3)(a) After `Constable' add `publicly'.

2(3) (ii) Add `(iii) the appraisal of individuals in the police service and their awareness of human rights issues and respect for human rights in the performance of their duty.' Replace `(iii)' with `(iv)'.

2(3)(c) After `informed' insert `and publish regularly statistics.'

2 (3) (c) add `(vi) police performance in public order situations'.

2(3)(c)(v) Add `(v) trends and patterns in the use of stop and search, house searches, road checks, arrests, detention, intimate searches, interceptions of communications and their outcomes.'

2 (3) (c)(v) Add `(vii) results of the random checks on the behaviour of officers in dealing with the public and their integrity.'

2(3)(e) Add `(f) Publish annually
(i) the number of officers injured on and off duty;
(ii) the number of officers on sick leave and average length of sick leave;
the number of officers who received personal injury compensation as a result of a motor accident while on duty and the average size of the claim.'

2(4)(c) add `(d) publish statistics and all other relevant material with regard to the principle that everything should be available for public scrutiny unless it is in the public interest - and not the police interest to withhold information.'

11(2) Insert `(2a) The Chief Constable shall open a cost file on every investigation which must be reviewed monthly.'

13(1) At end add `There shall be established four DPPBs for Belfast City.'

15(2) add 15(3) `(a) the District Commander shall take fully into account the views expressed by the DPPB.'

15(2) add 15(3) add `(b) the District Commander shall provide to the DPPB trends and patterns of crime, use of police powers of stop and search, houses searches, road blocks, arrests, detentions and their outcomes.'

18(2)(b) Add `(c) the Human Rights Commission.'

22 (1) add after `revise', `broad'.

22(2)(b) Add `(c) the Human Rights Commission.' Replace `(c)' with `(d)'.

22(2) add `22(3) `This power will be transferred to the Northern Ireland Executive after two years.'

22(4) The powers of the Policing Board shall be in no way diminished when the government role in the tripartite arrangement passes to the Northern Ireland Executive.'

23 (1) add after `objectives' `, priorities and performance targets.'

23(2) add after `which' `broad'.

24(3) Insert `(4) The draft of the policing plan submitted by the Chief Constable to the Board for it to consider should follow the objectives and priorities set by the Board.'

25(2) (b) Add `(c) the Human Rights Commission.'

26(6)(b) Add `(c) the Human Rights Commission.'

28(7)(c) Add `(d) the Human Rights Commission.'

30(4) add after `section 48' `and that the core function of the police service and the core function of every police station is policing with the community.'

31(1) after `Chief Constable,' add `, who will exercise operational responsibility.'

31(2)(b) add `(c) the principle that everything should be available for public scrutiny unless it is in the public interest - not the police interest to hold it back.

31(2)(b) add `(d) the requirement that District commanders should have fully devolved authority over the deployment of personnel (officer and civilian) within their command, devolved budgets (including salary budgets), authority to purchase a range of goods and services, and to finance local policing initiatives.'

33(2) Add `(2a) `The Board shall, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State, and after consultation with the Chief Constable, appoint a lawyer with specific expertise in the field of human rights to the staff of the police legal services to advise the police service on all aspects of human rights.'

35(2)(b) Add `(c) The full-time Police Reserve will cease to exist after 1 January, 2003.'

36 Delete after `shall on appointment' and after `attested' delete `as a constable'.
41(1) replace `may', by `shall'.

41(2)(c) Add `(d) the Human Rights Commission.'

42 (2) (a) add after `vacancies' `within and beyond NI, in the rest of the UK and in the Republic of Ireland'.

42(2) after (f) add `(g) the composition of recruitment panels which shall include lay members.'

42(5) Delete subsection (5).

43(1)(b) Add `(c) one half shall be women.'

43(2) Delete.

47(2) add `(2)(a) The CC shall request from every member of the police their membership of registrable associations.'

47(5) Delete from `shall' and add `be dismissed from the police service.'

48(1) after `force' add `and integrating the European Convention on Human Rights.'

48(2)(c) Add `(d) the Human Rights Commission.' Replace (d) with (e).

49(2) (b) Add `(c) the Human Rights Commission.' Delete `the Police Association'.

49(3) replace (3) with `The Secretary of State shall publish any guidance issued or revised in full on the internet.'

50(3)(b) Add `(c) the Human Rights Commission.' Delete `the Police Association'.

50 (1) replace `Secretary of State" with `Police Board'.

50 (2) (b) delete `or any other emblem' and add `(c) The Union flag should not be flown from police buildings.'

51(2) Delete `as far as practicable'.

55(3) Delete (3).

56(3) Delete (3).

56(4) Delete (4).

58, 61A(1) add `(c) police performance in public order situations.'

60 Delete section.

61. Delete `may reasonably require'.

69 (1) insert `police service' means `the Northern Ireland Police Service.'

69(1) insert `police service reserve' means `the Northern Ireland Police Service Reserve'.

69 (3) delete.

Sch 1, Part lll, 8(2)(b) delete `and'. Insert `(c) the Human Rights Commission; and' and replace `(c)' with `(d)'

Sch 1, Part lll, 9(1) (a) add after `offence' `since the coming into force of this Act.'
(b) Add after `creditors' `since the coming into force of this Act.'

Sch 1, Part lll, 11 (3) Replace `consult' with `with the agreement of'.

Sch 1, IV, 17 (1) Insert before (1) The Policing Board shall meet once a month and in public.' Replace (1) by (1a).

Sch 2 8(2) delete.

Sch 3, (7) (a) add after offence `since the coming into force of this Act'.

Sch 3,7(b) add after creditors since the coming into force of this Act'.

Sch 3, 8(2) delete.

Sch 3, 12 (3) add `(3a) Meetings of the DPPBs shall be held once a month and in public.'

Sch 3, 11 Insert `11(a) District Councils shall have the power to contribute an amount initially up to the equivalent of a rate of 3p in the pound to the DPPB for improved policing of the District.'

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Statewatch News online: Northern Ireland - Police (NI) Bill (amendments)

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