OpenLegislation

Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2003

2003 c. 6 · Enacted 8 April 2003 · Extends to Northern Ireland

Not fully up to date. 13 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 26 May 2016.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
Sch. 3 para. 2repealedThe Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 Sch. 3
s. 30(11)addedThe Policing (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 Sch. 4 para. 4
s. 30(6)(d)insertedThe Policing (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 Sch. 4 para. 3
s. 30(1)(d)addedThe Policing (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 art. 6(1)
Sch. 4 Pt. 3AinsertedThe Policing (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 Sch. 4 para. 5
Sch. 2 para. 16words substitutedCrime and Security Act 2010 s. 10(6)
Sch. 2 para. 11words substitutedCrime and Security Act 2010 s. 12(4)(a)
Sch. 2 para. 19words substitutedCrime and Security Act 2010 s. 12(4)(b)
Sch. 2A para. 17AinsertedOffensive Weapons Act 2019 s. 12(6)
Sch. 2A para. 8(5)words omittedTobacco and Vapes Act 2026 Sch. 15 para. 3(3)(b)
Sch. 2A para. 8(4)words omittedTobacco and Vapes Act 2026 Sch. 15 para. 3(3)(b)
Sch. 2A para. 8(3)words omittedTobacco and Vapes Act 2026 Sch. 15 para. 3(3)(b)
Sch. 2A para. 8(2)omittedTobacco and Vapes Act 2026 Sch. 15 para. 3(3)(a)

An Act to make provision about policing in Northern Ireland and the exercise of police powers in Northern Ireland by persons who are not police officers; and to amend the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989.

[8th April 2003]

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Contents

  1. Part 1: Policing
  2. Consultation by Secretary of State
  3. 1Long-term policing objectives
  4. 2Codes of Practice
  5. The Northern Ireland Policing Board
  6. 3Board’s policing objectives
  7. 4Public meetings of the Board
  8. 5Contracts relating to detention and escort services
  9. 6Funding for pension purposes
  10. 7Accounts and audit
  11. 8Performance summaries
  12. 9Performance summaries: supplementary
  13. Reports and inquiries
  14. 10Reports of Chief Constable
  15. 11Inquiries by Board
  16. 12Approval of proposals relating to inquiries by Board
  17. The Police Ombudsman
  18. 13Investigations into current police practices and policies
  19. District policing partnerships
  20. 14Independent members: appointment Repealed
  21. 15Independent members: declaration against terrorism Repealed
  22. 16Independent members: disqualification Repealed
  23. 17Disqualification following removal from office Repealed
  24. 18Council’s powers Repealed
  25. 19Belfast Repealed
  26. Police functions and service
  27. 20Core policing principles
  28. 21Chief Constable’s functions
  29. 22Provision of information to Board
  30. 23Appointment of constables with special policing skills
  31. 24Fixed-term appointments
  32. 25Members of PSNI engaged on other police service
  33. 26Protected disclosures by police officers
  34. Information and inquiries
  35. 27Restriction on disclosure of information
  36. 28Special committee of the Board
  37. 29Disclosure of information and holding of inquiries
  38. Part 2: Police powers
  39. Designation of civilians
  40. 30Police powers for designated police support staff
  41. 30ACommunity support officers
  42. 31Police powers for designated contracted-out staff
  43. 32Police powers: amendments
  44. 33Designations: supplementary
  45. 34Complaints and misconduct
  46. 34ASecretary of State’s power to make regulations
  47. 35Liability for unlawful conduct
  48. 36Notifiable memberships
  49. 37Code of ethics
  50. 38Assaults on, and obstruction of, designated persons
  51. 39Impersonation etc. of designated persons
  52. 40Designated persons: interpretation
  53. Searches and samples
  54. 41Intimate searches
  55. 42Intimate samples
  56. Codes of practice
  57. 43Codes of practice
  58. Part 3: General
  59. 44Orders and regulations
  60. 45Repeals and revocations
  61. 46Extent
  62. 47Short title
  63. Schedule 1: Belfast Repealed
  64. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  65. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  66. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  67. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  68. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  69. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  70. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  71. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  72. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  73. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  74. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  75. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
  76. 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
  77. 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
  78. 15Paragraph 15 Repealed
  79. 16Paragraph 16 Repealed
  80. Schedule 2: Powers exercisable by designated persons
  81. Part 1: Investigating officers
  82. Entry and search for purposes of arrest
  83. 1Paragraph 1
  84. Entry and search for evidence etc.
  85. 2Paragraph 2
  86. 2AParagraph 2A
  87. 2BParagraph 2B
  88. Access to excluded and special procedure material
  89. 3Paragraph 3
  90. Entry and search after arrest
  91. 4Paragraph 4
  92. General power of seizure
  93. 5Paragraph 5
  94. Access and copying in the case of things seized by constables
  95. 6Paragraph 6
  96. Arrest at a police station for another offence
  97. 7Paragraph 7
  98. Power to transfer persons into custody of investigating officers
  99. 8Paragraph 8
  100. Powers in respect of detained persons
  101. 8AParagraph 8A
  102. Power to require arrested person to account for certain matters
  103. 9Paragraph 9
  104. Extended powers of seizure
  105. 10Paragraph 10
  106. Persons accompanying investigating officers
  107. 10AParagraph 10A
  108. Part 2: Detention officers
  109. Attendance at police station for fingerprinting
  110. 11Paragraph 11
  111. Non-intimate searches of detained persons
  112. 12Paragraph 12
  113. Searches and examinations to ascertain identity
  114. 13Paragraph 13
  115. Fingerprinting
  116. 14Paragraph 14
  117. 15Paragraph 15
  118. Warnings about intimate samples
  119. 16Paragraph 16
  120. Non-intimate samples
  121. 17Paragraph 17
  122. 18Paragraph 18
  123. Attendance at police station for the taking of a sample
  124. 19Paragraph 19
  125. Photographing detained persons
  126. 20Paragraph 20
  127. Taking of impressions of footwear
  128. 20AParagraph 20A
  129. Powers in respect of detained persons
  130. 20BParagraph 20B
  131. Use of reasonable force in relation to detained persons
  132. 20CParagraph 20C
  133. Powers in relation to information about intimate search, x-ray and ultrasound
  134. 20DParagraph 20D
  135. 21Paragraph 21
  136. Part 3: Escort officers
  137. Power to take an arrested person to a police station
  138. 22Paragraph 22
  139. Escort of persons in police detention
  140. 23Paragraph 23
  141. Part 4: Interpretation
  142. 24Paragraph 24
  143. Schedule 2A: POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFFICER
  144. 1Powers to issue fixed penalty notice
  145. 2Power to require name and address: relevant offences
  146. 3Power to require name and address: road traffic offences
  147. 4Power to detain etc
  148. 5Confiscation of alcohol: public processions
  149. 6Confiscation of alcohol: young persons
  150. 7Confiscation of tobacco etc
  151. 8Search and seizure powers: alcohol and tobacco
  152. 9Powers to seize and retain: controlled drugs
  153. 9APowers to seize and retain: psychoactive substances
  154. 10Entry to save life or limb or prevent serious damage to property
  155. 11Entry to investigate licensing offences
  156. 12Power to stop vehicles
  157. 13Power to direct traffic and place traffic signs
  158. 14Carrying out of road checks
  159. 15Cordoned areas
  160. 16Power to stop and search vehicles etc in authorised areas
  161. 17Powers in relation to fireworks
  162. 18Interpretation
  163. Schedule 3: Police powers: amendments
  164. Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989/1341 (N.I. 12))
  165. 1Paragraph 1
  166. 2Paragraph 2
  167. 3Paragraph 3
  168. 4Paragraph 4
  169. 5Paragraph 5
  170. 6Paragraph 6
  171. 7Paragraph 7
  172. Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11)
  173. 8Paragraph 8
  174. Schedule 4Repeals and revocations
  175. 1Paragraph 1
  176. 2Paragraph 2