Part VI

The police

General

Code of ethics.
52
1
The Board shall issue, and may from time to time revise, a code of ethics for the purpose of—
a
laying down standards of conduct and practice for police officers;
b
making police officers aware of the rights and obligations arising out of the Convention rights (within the meaning of the Human Rights Act 1998).
2
In preparing the code, the Chief Constable and the Board shall have regard to the terms of the declaration set out in section 38(1).
2A
In revising the code the Chief Constable and the Board shall also have regard to any guidance for the time being in operation under section 8 of the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2004.
3
A draft of the code shall be submitted by the Chief Constable to the Board for it to consider.
4
The Board may adopt the draft code—
a
as submitted by the Chief Constable; or
b
with such amendments as the Board may determine, after consultation with the Chief Constable.
5
Before issuing or revising the code the Board shall consult—
a
the Police Association;
b
the Department of Justice;
c
the Ombudsman;
d
the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission;
e
the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland; and
f
any other person or body appearing to the Board to have an interest in the matter.
6
After consulting under subsection (5), the Board may make such further amendments to the draft code as it may determine, after consultation with the Chief Constable.
7
The Board shall publish any code of ethics issued or revised under this section in such manner as it thinks appropriate.
8
The Chief Constable shall take such steps as he considers necessary to ensure—
a
that all police officers have read and understood the code as currently in force; and
b
that a record is made and kept of the steps taken in relation to each officer.
9
In order to enable it to carry out its function under section 3(3)(d)(iv), the Board shall keep under review the steps taken by the Chief Constable under subsection (8).
10
The Department of Justice shall, so far as practicable, ensure that the provisions of the code currently in force under this section are reflected in the regulations relating to conduct or discipline made under section 25 or 26 of the 1998 Act.
10A
The Director General of the National Crime Agency shall take such steps as the Director General considers necessary to ensure—
a
that all National Crime Agency officers exercising functions in Northern Ireland have read and understood the code as currently in force; and
b
that a record is made and kept of the steps taken in relation to each officer.
10B
The Director General of the National Crime Agency shall, so far as practicable, ensure that the provisions of the code currently in force under this section are reflected in the disciplinary procedures applicable to National Crime Agency officers in relation to their exercise of functions in Northern Ireland.
S. 52(2A) inserted (1.2.2006) by Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2004 (c. 4), ss. 8(6), 19(1) (with s. 8(8)); S.R. 2005/282, art. 5
Words in s. 52(5)(b) substituted (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. 3 para. 69(a) (with arts. 28-31)
Words in s. 52(10) substituted (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. 3 para. 69(b) (with arts. 28-31)
S. 52(10A)(10B) inserted (19.5.2015) by The Crime and Courts Act 2013 (National Crime Agency and Proceeds of Crime) (Northern Ireland) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/798), art. 1(3), Sch. 2 para. 5