(1)Each district, other than Belfast, shall be a police district.
(2)In the district of Belfast there shall be such number of police districts (not exceeding 4), as may be determined by the Chief Constable; and each such police district shall consist of such area as may be so determined.
(3)For each police district the Chief Constable shall designate as district commander a police officer of the required rank.
(4)In any statutory provision—
(a)for any reference to a police sub-division there shall be substituted a reference to a police district established under this section;
(b)for any reference to a sub-divisional commander there shall be substituted a reference to a district commander designated under this section.
(5)“Required rank” means a rank not less than that of chief inspector.
(1)The district council for Belfast shall establish a sub-group of its district policing partnership for each police district established under section 20(2).
(2)The function of each sub-group shall be to provide views to the district commander of the sub-group’s police district and to the district policing partnership on any matter concerning the policing of that police district.
(3)Each sub-group shall consist of at least six members of the partnership.
(4)The members of a sub-group shall be appointed by the partnership.
(5)The members of a sub-group shall appoint a member to act as chairman of the sub-group.
(6)If they are unable to agree on whom to appoint as chairman, the partnership shall appoint the chairman.
(7)The code issued under section 19 may contain guidance as to the exercise by sub-groups of their functions.
(1)Each district commander shall issue, and may from time to time revise, a plan (“the local policing plan”) setting out the proposed arrangements for the policing of the police district.
(2)The local policing plan may relate to matters to which the policing plan also relates, or to other matters, but in any event shall be so framed as to be consistent with the policing plan.
(3)Before issuing or revising a local policing plan, the district commander shall consult the district policing partnership whose district is, or includes, the police district and take account of any views expressed.
(4)The district commander shall arrange for the local policing plan issued or revised under this section to be published in such manner as appears to him to be appropriate.