Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2003

30 Police powers for designated police support staff

(1) The Chief Constable may designate a member of the police support staff as an officer of one or more of these descriptions—

(a) investigating officer;

(b) detention officer;

(c) escort officer.

(2) The Chief Constable may designate a person under this section only if he is satisfied that these requirements are met—

(a) the person is a suitable person to carry out the functions for the purposes of which he is to be designated;

(b) the person is capable of effectively carrying out those functions;

(c) the person has received adequate training in the carrying out of those functions and in the exercise of the powers and performance of the duties to be conferred or imposed on him by his designation.

(3) A person designated under this section has—

(a) the powers conferred on him by his designation;

(b) the duties imposed on him by his designation.

(4) A designation under this section may confer powers or impose duties on a person only by applying the powers or duties to him.

(5) The powers and duties that may be applied to a person designated under this section by his designation are any or all of those specified in the applicable Part of Schedule 2.

(6) The applicable Part of Schedule 2 is—

(a) Part 1, in the case of a person designated under this section as an investigating officer;

(b) Part 2, in the case of a person designated under this section as a detention officer;

(c) Part 3, in the case of a person designated under this section as an escort officer.

(7) If a power is conferred or a duty imposed on a person designated under this section by his designation—

(a) the power or duty does not authorise or require him to engage in any conduct otherwise than in the course of his employment as a member of the police support staff;

(b) the power may be conferred or the duty imposed subject to restrictions or conditions specified in the designation.

(8) Subsection (9) applies in relation to the exercise of a power by a person designated under this section in reliance on his designation if the power is one which, if exercised by a police officer, includes or is supplemented by a power to use reasonable force.

(9) The designated person has the same entitlement to use reasonable force as a police officer would have if the power were exercised by him.

(10) If a power exercisable by a person designated under this section in reliance on his designation includes power to use force to enter any premises, the power is exercisable by the person only—

(a) in the company of a police officer and under the supervision of a police officer, or

(b) for the purpose of saving life or limb or preventing serious damage to property.