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2004 No. 122

POLICE

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (Secondment) (Garda Síochána) Regulations 2004

  Made 11th March 2004 
  To be laid before Parliament
  Coming into operation 30th April 2004 


ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS


PART I

GENERAL
1. Citation and commencement
2. Interpretation

PART II

SECONDMENTS FROM THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA
3. Efficiency and effectiveness of seconded officers
4. Appointment of seconded officers
5. Seconded officers not eligible for promotion
6. Police Association for Northern Ireland
7. Conditions of service
8. Conduct
9. Notices about misconduct cases
10. Members of the Garda Síochána whose appointment to the PSNI has ended
11. Pensions and injury benefit
12. Unsatisfactory performance

PART III

SECONDMENTS TO THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA
13. Conduct of member on relevant service with Garda Síochána
14. Supervising member
15. Referring case to hearing
16. Withdrawal of case
17. Notice of decision to refer case to hearing
18. Notices and documents
19. Consideration of facts
20. Conduct regulations
21. Request for a review
22. Disciplinary proceedings

SCHEDULES

  Schedule 1 - Modifications of the 1996 regulations for members seconded from the Garda Síochána

  Schedule 2 - Modifications of the conduct regulations for members seconded from the Garda Síochána

The Secretary of State, in pursuance of sections 25, 27 and 33 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998[
1], after consulting the Northern Ireland Policing Board and the Police Association for Northern Ireland in accordance with section 25(8) of that Act, and after taking into account the recommendations made by the Police Negotiating Board for the United Kingdom and supplying that Board with a draft of the regulations in accordance with section 62(1) of the Police Act 1996[2], hereby makes the following regulations:



PART I

GENERAL

Citation and commencement
     1.  - (1) These regulations may be cited as the Police Service of Northern Ireland (Secondment) (Garda Síochána) Regulations 2004.

    (2) These regulations shall come into operation on 30th April 2004.

Interpretation
    
2.  - (1) Any reference in these regulations to a member seconded from the Garda Síochána is a reference to a person -

    (2) In these regulations -



PART II

SECONDMENTS FROM THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA

Efficiency and effectiveness of seconded officers
     3.  - (1) Where a candidate for appointment under section 36A(1) of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 is a member of the Garda Síochána, the Chief Constable shall not make the appointment unless he is satisfied that the candidate -

    (2) The Chief Constable shall make arrangements for such training as he considers appropriate for the purposes of ensuring that a member seconded from the Garda Síochána is able to perform the duties of his office efficiently and effectively.

Appointment of seconded officers
    
4. Where a member of the Garda Síochána is appointed to the Police Service of Northern Ireland under section 36A(1) of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000, the appointment is subject to the provisions of any such protocols, addressing detailed aspects of secondments from the Garda Síochána to the Police Service of Northern Ireland, as may be signed under Article 3 of the inter-governmental agreement.

Seconded officers not eligible for promotion
    
5. A member who is seconded from the Garda Síochána and appointed to a rank in the Police Service of Northern Ireland under section 36A(1) of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 shall not be eligible for any promotion to a higher rank.

Police Association for Northern Ireland
    
6. In regulation 5 of the Police Association for Northern Ireland Regulations 1991[6] (every member of the police force shall be a member of the Police Association) after "force" insert "(other than a member seconded from the Garda Síochána (within the meaning of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (Secondment) (Garda Síochána) Regulations 2004))".

Conditions of service
     7. The 1996 regulations shall not apply in relation to any member seconded from the Garda Síochána, except as provided by Schedule 1.

Conduct
    
8.  - (1) In relation to any member seconded from the Garda Síochána, the conduct regulations shall have effect with the modifications set out in Schedule 2.

    (2) The Royal Ulster Constabulary (Appeals) Regulations 2000[
7] shall not apply in relation to any member seconded from the Garda Síochána.

Notices about misconduct cases
     9.  - (1) Where the Chief Constable suspends a member seconded from the Garda Síochána under regulation 5 of the conduct regulations, the Chief Constable shall notify the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána in writing of the suspension.

    (2) Where an officer appointed under regulation 8 of the conduct regulations ("the investigating officer") gives notice under regulation 9 of those regulations to a member seconded from the Garda Síochána of the matters mentioned in regulation 9(a) of those regulations, the investigating officer shall send a copy of the notice to the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána.

    (3) Where the investigating officer appointed to investigate a case relating to the conduct of a member seconded from the Garda Síochána submits a report under regulation 10 of the conduct regulations, he shall send a copy of the report to the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána.

    (4) Where an officer to whom a case is referred under regulation 7 of the conduct regulations gives notice to a member seconded from the Garda Síochána under regulation 13(1) of the conduct regulations of a decision to refer the case to a hearing, he shall send to the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána -

    (5) At the conclusion of any hearing under the conduct regulations the presiding officer or (in a directed hearing) the Chief Constable shall inform the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána in writing of the finding and shall send to the Commissioner a copy of the record of the hearing taken under regulation 30 of those regulations.

    (6) The Chief Constable may delegate any of his functions under paragraph (1) or (5) to another senior officer.

Members of the Garda Síochána whose appointment to the PSNI has ended
    
10.  - (1) The conduct regulations shall apply to any person -

as if he were still a member seconded from the Garda Síochána, subject to the modifications set out in paragraphs (2) to (4).

    (2) In regulation 5(3) after "paragraph (2)(a) to (d)" there shall be inserted "or until the member concerned ceases to be a member".

    (3) Any reference to the rank of the member concerned shall be construed as -

    (4) Any reference to the sub-division or branch in which a member under investigation is serving includes a reference to any sub-division or branch in which the member served during the appointment referred to in paragraph (1)(b).

Pensions and injury benefit
    
11. The regulations relating to Police Service of Northern Ireland pensions and injury benefit for the time being in force shall not apply in relation to any service as a member seconded from the Garda Síochána.

Unsatisfactory performance
    
12. The Royal Ulster Constabulary (Unsatisfactory Performance) Regulations 2000[8] shall not apply in relation to any member seconded from the Garda Síochána.



PART III

SECONDMENTS TO THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA

Conduct of member on relevant service with Garda Síochána
     13. Where an investigation is carried out in accordance with the law and procedure for the time being governing the discipline of members of the Garda Síochána into whether any conduct by a member of the Police Service of Northern Ireland engaged on relevant service with the Garda Síochána amounts to a breach of Garda Síochána discipline, any requirement imposed on the member under that law and procedure shall be treated as imposed under the conduct regulations.

Supervising member
    
14.  - (1) Where the Chief Constable is notified that an investigation is being or has been carried out by the Garda Síochána into an alleged breach of Garda Síochána discipline by a member engaged on relevant service with the Garda Síochána ("the member concerned"), he may refer the case to an officer ("the supervising member") to supervise the consideration of the question of imposing any sanction.

    (2) A supervising member must satisfy the conditions in regulation 7(3) of the conduct regulations.

    (3) The Chief Constable shall supply to the supervising member any report, notice or other document which he receives from the Garda Síochána in connection with the case.

Referring case to hearing
    
15.  - (1) The supervising member to whom a case is referred under regulation 14 shall decide whether to refer a case to a hearing on the question of whether to impose a sanction.

    (2) The supervising member shall not decide to refer a case to a hearing until he has been informed -

    (3) Where the supervising member is informed that a decision has been taken not to refer the case to a hearing under the law and procedure for the time being governing the discipline of members of the Garda Síochána, the supervising member shall not refer the case to a hearing.

    (4) Where the supervising member decides not to refer the case to a hearing, no reference to the case shall be made on the personal record of the member concerned.

    (5) Where the supervising member decides to refer the case to a hearing -

Withdrawal of case
    
16.  - (1) At any time before the beginning of the hearing the supervising member to whom a case is referred under regulation 14 may direct that the case be withdrawn.

    (2) Where a case is withdrawn it shall be treated as if the supervising member had decided not to refer the case to a hearing.

Notice of decision to refer case to hearing
    
17.  - (1) The supervising member to whom a case is referred under regulation 14 shall ensure that, as soon as practicable, the member concerned is given written notice of any decision taken under regulation 15.

    (2) A notice given under paragraph (1) shall specify -

    (3) There shall be supplied to the police officers conducting the hearing a copy of the notice given under paragraph (1).

Notice and documents
    
18.  - (1) The supervising member to whom a case is referred under regulation 14 shall ensure that the member concerned is given written notice -

    (2) The supervising member shall ensure that not less than 28 days before the date of the hearing, the member concerned is supplied with copies of any report, notice or other document submitted to the supervising member under regulation 14(3) and any other relevant documents obtained by the supervising member.

Consideration of facts
    
19. The officers conducting a hearing to which a case is referred under regulation 15 shall consider the facts of the case and decide whether, in all the circumstances, it would be reasonable to impose a sanction.

Conduct regulations
    
20.  - (1) The following provisions of the conduct regulations, namely -

shall apply in relation to a hearing to which a case is referred under regulation 15 as they apply in relation to a hearing to which a case is referred under regulation 11 of the conduct regulations.

    (2) In the application of the provisions mentioned in paragraph (1) to a hearing to which a case is referred under regulation 15 -

Request for a review
    
21.  - (1) Where a sanction is imposed at a hearing to which a case is referred under regulation 15, the member concerned shall be entitled to request the Chief Constable to review the sanction.

    (2) Regulations 34(2) and (3), 35(1) and (3), 36 and 37 of the conduct regulations shall apply to a review requested under this regulation as they apply to a review requested under regulation 34(1) of those regulations.

Disciplinary proceedings
    
22. Proceedings at or in connection with a hearing to which a case is referred under regulation 15 shall, for the purposes of section 50 of the 1998 Act, be disciplinary proceedings.


Jane Kennedy
Minister of State

Northern Ireland Office
11th March 2004



SCHEDULE 1
Regulation 7


MODIFICATIONS OF THE 1996 REGULATIONS FOR MEMBERS SECONDED FROM THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA


The following provisions of the 1996 regulations shall apply in relation to a member seconded from the Garda Síochána, namely -



SCHEDULE 2
Regulation 8


MODIFICATIONS OF THE CONDUCT REGULATIONS FOR MEMBERS SECONDED FROM THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA


     1. Any reference in regulation 9(a)(iv), 26(2) or 35(3) of the conduct regulations to a member, or a member of a police force, accompanying a member seconded from the Garda Síochána at a hearing or meeting shall include a reference to a member of the Garda Síochána.

     2. Any reference in the conduct regulations to a staff association shall include a reference to an association representing members of the Garda Síochána.

     3. Any requirement in the conduct regulations to give a member the opportunity to elect to be legally represented shall apply in any case in which the supervising member considers that the circumstances of the case are such that, were the member concerned not seconded from the Garda Síochána, the supervising member would be of the opinion that the hearing should have available the sanctions of dismissal, requirement to resign or reduction in rank.

     4. The following provisions of the conduct regulations shall be omitted -

     5. In regulation 29(2)(b) of the conduct regulations (remission of cases) for the words from the beginning to "available and that" there shall be substituted "the member concerned was not given an opportunity under regulation 16 to elect to be legally represented at the hearing, and it appears to the presiding officer concerned that -

     6. For regulation 34(1) of the conduct regulations (request for a review) there shall be substituted -

     7. For regulation 36(2) of the conduct regulations (finding of the review) there shall be substituted -



EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)


These regulations make provision about secondments between the Police Service of Northern Ireland and An Garda Síochána.

Section 36A of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 (inserted by section 24 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2003) permits fixed term appointments to be made to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Part II of these regulations makes provision about the terms on which such appointments may be made in relation to persons seconded from An Garda Síochána ("Garda officers on secondment to the PSNI").

Regulation 3 makes provision about the efficiency and effectiveness of Garda officers on secondment to the PSNI.

Regulation 4 states that the secondment of Garda officers to the PSNI is subject to protocols signed under Article 3 of the Agreement of 29th April 2002 between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Ireland on police co-operation.

Regulation 5 prohibits Garda officers on secondment to the PSNI being promoted within the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Regulation 6 removes a requirement for Garda officers on secondment to the PSNI to join the Police Association of Northern Ireland.

Regulations 7, 11 and 12 and Schedule 1 provide for regulations about the conditions of service of members of the PSNI to be modified in relation to Garda officers on secondment to the PSNI. In particular, provisions about pay and pensions do not apply to officers on secondment, as An Garda Síochána continues to be responsible for such matters.

Regulations 8 to 10 and Schedule 2 provide for regulations about the conduct of members of the PSNI to be modified in relation to Garda officers on secondment to the PSNI. In particular, the power to impose a sanction in disciplinary proceedings does not apply to officers on secondment, as it is for An Garda Síochána to make decisions as to sanctions.

Part III of these regulations makes provision about disciplinary proceedings against a member of the Police Service of Northern Ireland who has been seconded to An Garda Síochána. The regulations require a member to co-operate with any investigation into his conduct by An Garda Síochána. Where such an investigation leads to a hearing at which his conduct is found to be a breach of the discipline of that police force, the regulations modify the Royal Ulster Constabulary (Conduct) Regulations 2000 to provide for a hearing by the Police Service of Northern Ireland into the question of imposing a sanction.


Notes:

[1] 1998 c. 32. Section 25 was modified by the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 (Modification) Order 2003 (S.R. 2003 No. 376)back

[2] 1996 c. 16back

[3] 2000 c. 32. Section 36A was inserted by the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2003back

[4] S.R. 1996 No. 473, as amended by S.R. 1997 No. 362, S.R. 1999 No. 412, S.R. 2000 No. 316, S.R. 2002 No. 95, S.R. 2003 No. 184 and S.R. 2003 No. 372back

[5] S.R. 2000 No. 315, as amended by S.R. 2003 No. 68back

[6] S.R. 1991 No. 168back

[7] S.R. 2000 No. 317back

[8] S.R. 2000 No. 316back



ISBN 0 337 95474 7


  © Crown copyright 2004

Prepared 7 April 2004


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