Part 2

Police powers

Designation of civilians

Community support officers
30A
1
The Chief Constable may designate a member of the police support staff as a community support officer.
2
The Chief Constable may designate a person under this section only if he is satisfied that—
a
the person is a suitable person to carry out the functions of a community support officer;
b
the person is capable of effectively carrying out those functions; and
c
the person has received adequate training in the carrying out of those functions.
3
A person designated under this section has, by virtue of the designation, the powers and duties set out in Schedule 2A (and references in any statutory provision to the powers and duties conferred or imposed on him by his designation shall be construed accordingly).
4
A person designated under this section is not authorised or required by virtue of his designation to engage in any conduct otherwise than in the course of his employment as a member of the police support staff.
5
Where any power conferred on a person by his designation under this section is a power which, if exercised by a police officer, includes or is supplemented by a power to use reasonable force, the designated person has the same entitlement to use reasonable force in exercising that power as a police officer would have if the power were exercised by him.
6
Where any power conferred on a person by his designation under this section includes power to use force to enter any premises, that 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.
7
A power exercisable by any person in reliance on his designation under this section shall be exercisable only when he is wearing such uniform as may be—
a
determined or approved for the purposes of this section by the Chief Constable; and
b
identified or described in the designation.
8
The
Department of Justice
may by order amend Schedule 2A.
S. 30A inserted (22.4.2007) by The Policing (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/912 (N.I. 6)), arts. 1(3), 7(2)
Words in s. 30A(8) substituted (18.10.2012) by The Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2595), arts. 1(2), 11(2) (with arts. 24-28)