{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/police-northern-ireland-act-1998/section-50",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/police-northern-ireland-act-1998/section-50.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1998/32",
  "legislation_title": "Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/police-northern-ireland-act-1998",
  "path": "section/50",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "50",
  "heading": "Interpretation of this Part.",
  "text": "(1) In this Part—\n“the appropriate disciplinary authority” means—\n(a) in relation to a senior officer, the Board; and\n(b) in relation to any other member of the police force, the Chief Constable;\n“complaint” shall be construed in accordance with section 52(8);\n“complainant” means the person by, or on behalf of whom, a complaint is made;\n“ the Director ” means the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland;\n“disciplinary proceedings” means—\n(a) in relation to a member of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, proceedings identified as such by regulations under section 25;\n(b) in relation to a reserve constable, proceedings identified as such by regulations under section 26;\n“officer of the Ombudsman” means—\n(a) a person employed by the Ombudsman under paragraph 3(1) of Schedule 3;\n(b) a person providing assistance to the Ombudsman in pursuance of arrangements made under paragraph 3(2) of Schedule 3;\n(c) a member of the police force on temporary service with the Ombudsman in accordance with arrangements under paragraph 5 of Schedule 3;\n(d) a member of the police force providing assistance to the Ombudsman under paragraph 6 of Schedule 3;\n(e) a member of a police force in Great Britain on temporary service with the Ombudsman in accordance with arrangements under paragraph 8 of Schedule 3;\n“the Ombudsman” means the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland;\n“police officer” means a member of—\n(a) the police force; or\n(b) a police force in Great Britain;\n“prescribed” means prescribed by regulations under section 64;\n“serious complaint” means a complaint—\n(a) alleging that the conduct complained of resulted in the death of, or serious injury to, some person; or\n(b) of such other description as may be prescribed;\n“serious injury” means a fracture, damage to an internal organ or impairment of bodily function.\n(2) Where a complaint is made orally, references in this Part to a complaint being referred to a body or person shall be read as references to particulars of the complaint being so referred.",
  "extent": "N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 50 substituted (4.11.2001) by 2000 c. 32, s. 78(1), Sch. 6 para. 23(5)(a); S.R. 2001/396, art. 2, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Definition in s. 50(1) inserted (13.6.2005) by Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (c. 26), ss. 34(2), 87(1); S.R. 2005/281, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 5"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 50(1) substituted (4.11.2001) by 2000 c. 32, s. 78(1), Sch. 6 para. 23(5)(b); S.R. 2001/396, art. 2, Sch."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/32/section/50",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:22:34.496122+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}