Consultation Paper
6.On 17 January 2005, a copy of the draft Order was circulated to the Northern Ireland Policing Board, the Police Service for Northern Ireland, NI district councils and other interested parties. A covering letter outlined the proposals for amending the Police (NI) Act 2000 (as amended by the Police (NI) Act 2003) and requested that comments should be submitted by 14 February 2005. The Department received comments from 22 respondents who generally welcomed and supported the proposals.
7.The consultation period was reduced from 12 to 4 weeks with Ministerial approval. This was considered sufficient as comments had already been received on the issues raised for amendment, by all relevant parties, following a consultation on the draft Appointment of Independent Members to District Policing Partnerships Code of Practice, an on-going review of DPPs which is being undertaken by the Northern Ireland Policing Board and the Policing Oversight Commissioner’s most recent report.
