Police Act 1997

[F1 119B Independent monitor U.K.

(1) There is to be an independent monitor for the purposes of this Part.

(2) The independent monitor is a person appointed by the Secretary of State—

(a) for such period, not exceeding three years, as the Secretary of State decides;

(b) on such terms as the Secretary of State decides.

(3) A person may be appointed for a further period or periods.

(4) The Secretary of State may terminate the appointment of the independent monitor before the end of the period mentioned in subsection (2)(a) by giving the monitor notice of the termination not less than three months before it is to take effect.

[F2 (4A) Before appointing a person to be the independent monitor, or terminating the appointment of the independent monitor, the Secretary of State must consult the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland.]

(5) The independent monitor must review—

(a) all cases in which information is disclosed to a registered person in pursuance of section 113B(6)(b);

(b) a sample of cases in which a certificate issued under section 113B has included information in pursuance of subsection (4)(b) of that section;

(c) a sample of cases in which the chief officer of a police force has decided that information must not be included in a certificate or report in pursuance of section 113B(4)(b) or disclosed in pursuance of section 113B(5)(c) and (6)(b);

(d) all cases in which information is withheld from an individual because it is information to which section 24(9) of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 applies;

(e) a sample of cases in which relevant information (within the meaning of section 24(8)(b) of that Act) is provided to an individual in pursuance of section 24(4)(a) of that Act.

(6) The purpose of a review under subsection (5) is to ensure compliance with Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights.

(7) The independent monitor must in relation to each year make a report to the Secretary of State about the performance of police forces in exercising their functions under this Part.

(8) The independent monitor may make recommendations to the Secretary of State as to—

(a) any guidance issued by the Secretary of State or which the monitor thinks it would be appropriate for the Secretary of State to issue;

(b) any changes to any enactment which the monitor thinks may be appropriate.

(9) The chief officer of a police force must provide to the independent monitor such information as the monitor reasonably requires in connection with the exercise of his functions under this section.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 119B inserted (E.W.N.I.) (20.1.2009) by Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (c. 47), ss. 28, 65 (with ss. 51, 57(3), 60(4), 64(5)); S.I. 2009/39, art. 2(1)(c)

F2 S. 119B(4A) inserted (12.4.2010) by The Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/976), art. 1(2), Sch. 14 para. 37(2) (with arts. 28-31)