Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000

43 Contracting-out of certain recruitment functions of Chief Constable

(1) The Chief Constable may, in accordance with regulations made by the Secretary of State, appoint a person to exercise prescribed functions of the Chief Constable in connection with the recruitment of persons other than—

(a) senior officers; and

(b) members of the police support staff appointed under section 4(2).

(2) Before making any regulations under subsection (1), the Secretary of State shall consult—

(a) the Board;

(b) the Chief Constable;

(c) the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland; and

(d) the Police Association.

(3) Regulations under subsection (1)—

(a) shall provide for the appointment of a person under that subsection to be made on such terms and conditions (including conditions as to payment) as may be determined in accordance with the regulations;

(b) may impose on any person appointed under that subsection such duties as appear to the Secretary of State to be necessary or expedient in connection with the exercise by that person of any prescribed functions of the Chief Constable.

(4) Anything done or omitted to be done by or in relation to a person appointed under subsection (1) (or an employee of his) in, or in connection with, the exercise or purported exercise of any prescribed functions of the Chief Constable shall be treated for all purposes as done or omitted to be done by or in relation to the Chief Constable.

(5) Subsection (4) does not apply—

(a) for the purposes of so much of any contract made between the Chief Constable and the person appointed under subsection (1) as relates to the exercise of any prescribed functions of the Chief Constable; or

(b) for the purpose of any criminal proceedings brought in respect of anything done or omitted to be done by the person appointed under subsection (1) (or an employee of his).

(6) In this section “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations under subsection (1).

(7) Nothing in this section affects any other power which the Chief Constable has to enter into arrangements concerning the discharge of functions of his which are not prescribed under subsection (1).