Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998

Part VI Reports

47 Annual and other reports by Police Authority to Secretary of State

(1) The Police Authority shall, not later than 6 months after the end of each financial year, issue a report relating to the policing of Northern Ireland for the year.

(2) A report issued under subsection (1) for any year shall include—

(a) an assessment of the extent to which the annual policing plan for that year issued under section 17 has been carried out; and

(b) an assessment—

(i) of the extent to which the membership of the police force is representative of the community in Northern Ireland; and

(ii) of the effectiveness of any measures taken by the Chief Constable with a view to securing that the membership of the police force is representative of that community.

(3) The Police Authority shall—

(a) arrange for every report issued under subsection (1) to be published in such manner as appears to it to be appropriate; and

(b) send a copy of the report to the Secretary of State.

(4) The Police Authority shall, whenever required by the Secretary of State, submit to the Secretary of State a report on such matters connected with the discharge of the Authority’s functions, or otherwise with the policing of Northern Ireland, as may be specified in the requirement.

(5) A report under subsection (4) shall be made—

(a) in such form as may be specified in the requirement under that subsection; and

(b) within the period of one month from the date on which that requirement is made or within such longer period as may be agreed between the Police Authority and the Secretary of State.

(6) The Secretary of State may arrange, or require the Police Authority to arrange, for a report under subsection (4) to be published in such manner as appears to him to be appropriate.

48 Annual and other reports by Chief Constable to Police Authority

(1) The Chief Constable shall, not later than 3 months after the end of each financial year, submit to the Police Authority a general report on the policing of Northern Ireland during that year.

(2) The Chief Constable shall arrange for a report submitted under subsection (1) to be published in such manner as appears to him to be appropriate.

(3) The Chief Constable shall, whenever so required by the Police Authority, submit to the Authority a report on such matters connected with the policing of Northern Ireland as may be specified in the requirement.

(4) A report under subsection (3) shall be made—

(a) in such form as may be specified in the requirement under that subsection; and

(b) within the period of one month from the date on which that requirement is made, or within such longer period as may be agreed between the Chief Constable and the Police Authority.

(5) If it appears to the Chief Constable that a report in compliance with subsection (3) would contain information which—

(a) in the public interest ought not to be disclosed; or

(b) is not needed for the discharge of the functions of the Police Authority,

he may request the Authority to refer the requirement to submit the report to the Secretary of State, and in any such case the requirement shall be of no effect unless it is confirmed by the Secretary of State.

(6) The Police Authority may arrange, or require the Chief Constable to arrange, for a report under subsection (3) to be published in such manner as appears to the Authority to be appropriate.

49 Reports by Chief Constable to Secretary of State

(1) The Chief Constable shall, whenever so required by the Secretary of State, submit to the Secretary of State a report on such matters connected with the policing of Northern Ireland as may be specified in the requirement.

(2) A report under subsection (1) shall be made—

(a) in such form as may be specified in the requirement under that subsection; and

(b) within the period of one month from the date on which that requirement is made, or within such longer period as may be agreed between the Chief Constable and the Secretary of State.

(3) The Secretary of State may arrange, or require the Chief Constable to arrange, for a report under subsection (1) to be published in such manner as appears to the Secretary of State to be appropriate.

(4) The Chief Constable shall, at the same time as he submits a report to the Police Authority under section 48(1), submit the same report to the Secretary of State.

(5) The Secretary of State shall lay before both Houses of Parliament every report submitted to him under subsection (4).