Sections 24 and 25: The Secretary of State’s and Board’s Policing Objectives
42.These sections provide for the setting of strategic objectives for policing and the issuing of the Board’s policing plan each year. They replace and simplify the objective setting and planning process set out in Part II of the 1998 Act. Section 24 requires the Secretary of State to set long-term objectives for policing in Northern Ireland after consulting the Board and the Chief Constable. Section 25 requires the Board to set objectives for policing after consulting the Chief Constable and district policing partnerships and after considering any reports by district policing partnerships or other views raised by members of the community. The Board’s objectives must be consistent with the strategic objectives set by the Secretary of State.