Part VI The police
General functions
32 General functions of the police.
1
It shall be the general duty of police officers—
a
to protect life and property;
b
to preserve order;
c
to prevent the commission of offences;
d
where an offence has been committed, to take measures to bring the offender to justice.
2
A police officer shall have all the powers and privileges of a constable throughout Northern Ireland and the adjacent United Kingdom waters.
3
In subsection (2)—
a
the reference to the powers and privileges of a constable is a reference to all the powers and privileges for the time being exercisable by a constable whether at common law or under any statutory provision,
b
“United Kingdom waters” means the sea and other waters within the seaward limits of the territorial sea,
and that subsection, so far as it relates to the powers under any statutory provision, makes them exercisable throughout the adjacent United Kingdom waters whether or not the statutory provision applies to those waters apart from that subsection.
4
In carrying out their functions, police officers shall be guided by the code of ethics under section 52.
5
Police officers shall, so far as practicable, carry out their functions in co-operation with, and with the aim of securing the support of, the local community.