2016 No. 413
Police
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (Promotion) (Amendment) Regulations 2016
Made 21st November 2016
Coming into operation 31st December 2016

The Department of Justice makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 25(2)(b) and 72(2) of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998.
1998 c.32. Relevant amendments are made by section 78(1) of and paragraph 23 of Schedule 6 to the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 and section 134(1)(a) of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
In accordance with section 25(8) of that Act the Department has consulted the Northern Ireland Policing Board and the Police Association for Northern Ireland before making these Regulations.

1 Citation and commencement
These Regulations may be cited as the Police Service of Northern Ireland (Promotion) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 and shall come into operation on 31st December 2016.

Amendments to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (Promotion) Regulations 2008
2 The Police Service of Northern Ireland (Promotion) Regulations 2008 are amended as follows.
S.R. 2008 No. 477.
3 In regulation 2, in the appropriate places insert—

““FT Programme” has the same meaning as in the Police (Promotion) Regulations 1996;”

““qualifying assessment” means an assessment recognised by the Chief Constable for use in the FT Programme;”

.
S.I. 1996/1685 as amended by S.I. 2014/2373.
4 In Regulation 4—
(a) in paragraph (1), for “A constable (“C”)” substitute “Subject to paragraph (2A), a constable (“C”);
(b) in paragraph (2), for “A sergeant (“S”)” substitute “Subject to paragraph (2B), a sergeant (“S”)”;
(c) after paragraph (2), insert—

“2A A constable participating in the FT Programme is qualified for promotion to the rank of sergeant if he has obtained a pass in the qualifying assessment for promotion to the rank of sergeant.
2B A sergeant participating in the FT Programme is qualified for promotion to the rank of inspector if he has obtained a pass in the qualifying assessment for promotion to the rank of inspector (including where part of that pass was obtained whilst the sergeant held the rank of constable, in accordance with paragraph 5(2B) of the Schedule).”

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5 In paragraph 5 of the Schedule —
(a) in sub-paragraph (1) after “(2)” insert “,(2A)”;
(b) after sub-paragraph (2) insert—

“2A A constable participating in the FT Programme is eligible to take Part 1 of the qualifying assessment for promotion to the rank of sergeant.”

;
(c) after sub-paragraph (2A) insert—

“2B A constable participating in the FT Programme is eligible to take Part 1 of the qualifying assessment for promotion to the rank of inspector.”

;
(d) after sub-paragraph (3) insert—

“4 A sergeant participating in the FT Programme is eligible to take Part 1 of the qualifying assessment for promotion to the rank of inspector.”

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Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Justice on 21st November 2016
Claire Sugden Minister of Justice

EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Police Service of Northern Ireland (Promotion) Regulations 2008 (“the 2008 Regulations”) to introduce the Constable to Inspector Fast Track Programme (“the Programme”). The amendments to regulation 4 of the 2008 Regulations have the effect of permitting constables and sergeants participating in the Programme to be promoted more quickly than if they were not participating in the Programme. The Schedule to the 2008 Regulations is also amended to permit constables and sergeants participating in the programme to take their qualifying assessments for promotion earlier than if they were not participating in the Programme.
A full regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for these Regulations as no impact on the private or voluntary sector is foreseen.