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Policing Board code of practice on exercise of functions by district policing partnerships

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is an independent statutory body which was established March 1999 by the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and the Northern Ireland Act 1998. Section 69 of the Northern Ireland Act outlines the Commission’s duties and powers and section 69(1) specifically places a duty on the Commission “to keep under review the adequacy and effectiveness of law and practice relating to the protection of human rights.” The Commission’s response to the Board’s consultation document has been completed in light of this duty.

The Commission welcomes the publication of the consultation document and the inclusion of the Commission in the list of consultees. The Commission would suggest that the Commission’s name be added to the publicised list of consultees (para. 1.2) and that the list of consultees be widened to include other statutory organisations and a representative sample of local and regional non-government organisations. Given the importance of the consultation role of the District Policing Partnerships the Commission recommends that more specific guidance on consultation be added to the Code perhaps as an appendix. Advice on this subject is available from the Equality Commission, the NIHRC itself and NGOs such as the Ad Hoc Consortium on a Bill of Rights.

policing-boards-code-of-practice-on-exercise-of-functions-by-district-policing-partnerships-may-2002.pdf