OpenLegislation

Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998

1998 c. 32 · Enacted 24 July 1998 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 3 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 18 March 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 33modified by 2003 c. 6 s. 30(11) (as added)The Policing (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 Sch. 4 para. 4
s. 66(3A)modified by 2003 c. 6 s. 30(11) (as added)The Policing (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 Sch. 4 para. 4
s. 42(3)words insertedJustice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 Sch. 12 para. 61

An Act to make provision about policing in Northern Ireland; and for connected purposes.

[24th July 1998]

E1C1Be 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:—

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act: transfer of certain functions (4.11.2001) by 2000 c. 32, s. 2, Sch. 2 para. 2; S.R. 2001/396, art. 2, Sch.

Extent

E1

Act extends to Northern Ireland only, but for exceptions see s. 76(1)(2)(3).

Contents

  1. Part I
  2. 1The Police Authority for Northern Ireland.
  3. 2General functions of the Police Authority.
  4. 3Staff of the Police Authority.
  5. 4Power to transfer staff to employment of Police Authority.
  6. 5Provision and maintenance of buildings and equipment.
  7. 6Acquisition and disposal of land by Police Authority.
  8. 7Arrangements for obtaining the views of the public on policing.
  9. 8Provision of advice and assistance to international organisations, etc.
  10. 9Grants to, and borrowing by, the Police Authority.
  11. 10Funding of Police Authority – ancillary provisions.
  12. 11Charges for special services.
  13. 12Accounts and audit.
  14. 13Rewards for diligence.
  15. Part II
  16. 14Setting of policing objectives by Secretary of State.
  17. 15Setting of policing objectives and performance targets by Police Authority.
  18. 16The Chief Constable’s strategic policing plan.
  19. 17The Police Authority’s annual policing plan.
  20. Part III: The police force
  21. 18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  22. 19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  23. 20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  24. 21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  25. 22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  26. 23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  27. 24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  28. 25Regulations for Police Service of Northern Ireland.
  29. 25ARegulations about hours, leave, pay or equipment: consultation etc
  30. 26Regulations for Police Service of Northern Ireland Reserve.
  31. 27Members of Police Service of Northern Ireland engaged on other police service.
  32. 28The Police Fund.
  33. 29Liability for wrongful acts of constables.
  34. 30Protection of members of the police force in executing warrants.
  35. 31Property coming into the possession of the police.
  36. Part IV: Police representative institutions
  37. 32Police Association for Northern Ireland.
  38. 33Regulations for Police Association.
  39. 34The Police Negotiating Board for the United Kingdom. Repealed
  40. 35Membership of trade unions.
  41. Part V: Functions of Secretary of State and Department of Justice
  42. 36. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  43. 37. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  44. 38. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  45. 39. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  46. 40Power to require use by police of specified facilities, equipment or services.
  47. 41Appointment of inspectors of constabulary.
  48. 41APowers of Secretary of State in relation to reports and other duties of inspectors of constabulary
  49. 42Publication of reports of inspectors of constabulary.
  50. 43Criminal statistics.
  51. 44Inquiries. Repealed
  52. 45Research and advice.
  53. 46Expenditure by Department of Justice for police purposes.
  54. Part VI
  55. 47Annual and other reports by Police Authority to Secretary of State.
  56. 48Annual and other reports by Chief Constable to Police Authority.
  57. 49Reports by Chief Constable to Secretary of State.
  58. Part VII: Police complaints and disciplinary proceedings
  59. 50Interpretation of this Part.
  60. 50AComplaints relating to conduct forming part of the Troubles
  61. 51The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland.
  62. 52Complaints – receipt and initial classification of complaints.
  63. 53Complaints – informal resolution.
  64. 54Complaints – formal investigation.
  65. 55Consideration of other matters by the Ombudsman.
  66. 56Formal investigation by the Ombudsman.
  67. 57Formal investigation by a police officer.
  68. 58Steps to be taken after investigation – criminal proceedings.
  69. 58ASteps to be taken after investigation – mediation.
  70. 59Steps to be taken after investigation – disciplinary proceedings.
  71. 60Constabularies not maintained by Board.
  72. 60ZAThe National Crime Agency
  73. 60ZBImmigration and customs enforcement functions
  74. 60ZCSection 60ZB: supplementary
  75. 60ZDThe Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery
  76. 60AInvestigations into current police practices and policies
  77. 61Reports.
  78. 61AReports to Chief Constable and Board. Repealed
  79. 61AASupply of information by Ombudsman to Board.
  80. 62Statements by Ombudsman about exercise of his functions.
  81. 63Restriction on disclosure of information.
  82. 64Regulations.
  83. 64ASecretary of State’s power to make regulations
  84. 65Guidance concerning discipline, complaints, etc.
  85. Part VIII: Miscellaneous and general
  86. Offences
  87. 66Assaults on, and obstruction of, constables, etc.
  88. 67Impersonation, etc.
  89. 68Causing disaffection.
  90. 69Obtaining pension by self-inflicted injury, etc.
  91. Traffic wardens
  92. 70. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  93. Supplementary
  94. 71Expenses of Secretary of State.
  95. 72Orders and regulations.
  96. 73Interpretation.
  97. 74Amendments, transitional provisions, repeals, etc.
  98. 75Commencement.
  99. 76Extent.
  100. 77Short title.
  101. Schedule 1
  102. Status
  103. 1Paragraph 1
  104. Constitution
  105. 2Paragraph 2
  106. Term of office
  107. 3Paragraph 3
  108. Remuneration and allowances
  109. 4Paragraph 4
  110. Procedure
  111. 5Paragraph 5
  112. Validity of proceedings
  113. 6Paragraph 6
  114. Seal
  115. 7Paragraph 7
  116. Contracts, etc.
  117. 8Paragraph 8
  118. Evidence
  119. 9Paragraph 9
  120. Disclosure of pecuniary interests, family connections, etc.
  121. 10Paragraph 10
  122. Committees
  123. 11Paragraph 11
  124. Schedule 2Schedule 2
  125. Schedule 3: The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland
  126. The Ombudsman
  127. 1Paragraph 1
  128. Remuneration, pensions, allowances, etc.
  129. 2Paragraph 2
  130. Staff
  131. 3Paragraph 3
  132. 4Paragraph 4
  133. Assistance by members of the police force
  134. 5Paragraph 5
  135. 6Paragraph 6
  136. 7Paragraph 7
  137. Assistance by members of a police force in Great Britain
  138. 8Paragraph 8
  139. Exercise of functions
  140. 9Paragraph 9
  141. Evidence
  142. 10Paragraph 10
  143. Finance
  144. 11Paragraph 11
  145. 12Paragraph 12
  146. Property
  147. 13Paragraph 13
  148. Schedule 4: Amendments
  149. The Incitement to Disaffection Act 1934 (c. 56)
  150. 1Paragraph 1
  151. The Police (Overseas Service) Act 1945 (c. 17)
  152. 2Paragraph 2
  153. The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 (c. 33 (N.I.))
  154. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  155. The Police (Scotland) Act 1967 (c. 77)
  156. 4Paragraph 4
  157. The Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 (c. 9 (N.I.))
  158. 5Paragraph 5
  159. The Superannuation (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 (NI 10)
  160. 6Paragraph 6
  161. The Overseas Pensions Act 1973 (c. 21)
  162. 7Paragraph 7
  163. The House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 24)
  164. 8Paragraph 8
  165. The Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 25)
  166. 9Paragraph 9
  167. The Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1976 (c. 25) Not yet in force
  168. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  169. The Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 (NI 13)
  170. 11Paragraph 11
  171. The Sex Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 (NI 15)
  172. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
  173. The Criminal Damage (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 (NI 4)
  174. 13Paragraph 13
  175. The Customs and Excise Act 1979 (c. 2)
  176. 14Paragraph 14
  177. The Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (NI 2)
  178. 15Paragraph 15 Repealed
  179. The Ministry of Defence Police Act 1987 (c. 4)
  180. 16Paragraph 16
  181. The Official Secrets Act 1989 (c. 6)
  182. 17Paragraph 17 Repealed
  183. The Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (NI 12)
  184. 18Paragraph 18
  185. The Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1994 (NI 15)
  186. 19Paragraph 19
  187. The Police Act 1996 (c. 16)
  188. 20Paragraph 20
  189. The Juries (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (NI 6)
  190. 21Paragraph 21
  191. The Police Act 1997 (c. 50)
  192. 22Paragraph 22 Repealed
  193. The Road Traffic Regulation (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 (NI 2)
  194. 23Paragraph 23
  195. The Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 (NI 6)
  196. 24Paragraph 24 Repealed
  197. The Police (Health and Safety)(Northern Ireland) Order 1997 (NI 16)
  198. 25Paragraph 25 Repealed
  199. Schedule 5: Transitional provisions and savings
  200. Part I: General
  201. Saving for pensions, etc. under repealed provisions
  202. 1Paragraph 1
  203. Statutory references to Royal Irish Constabulary, etc.
  204. 2Paragraph 2
  205. Power to make other transitional or saving provisions
  206. 3Paragraph 3
  207. Part II: The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland
  208. Interpretation
  209. 4Paragraph 4
  210. Transfer of property, rights and liabilities of Commission
  211. 5Paragraph 5
  212. Transfer of staff
  213. 6Paragraph 6
  214. Legal proceedings
  215. 7Paragraph 7
  216. Payments to former members of the Commission
  217. 8Paragraph 8
  218. Information received by Commission
  219. 9Paragraph 9
  220. Financial year
  221. 10Paragraph 10
  222. Stamp duty
  223. 11Paragraph 11
  224. Schedule 6Repeals