Commentary on Sections Schedule 7: Schedule to be inserted as Schedule 4B to the Police Act 1996 Section 134: Consultation about regulations: Northern Ireland
371.Subsection (1) amends section 25 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998. That section confers power on the Northern Ireland Department of Justice to make regulations about the conditions of service of members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. There is a requirement to consult the Northern Ireland Policing Board before making such regulations save where they relate to the duty, leave, pay, allowances, or pensions of police officers and the issue, use and return of equipment. The amendments maintain this saving, but require the Department of Justice to invite the views of the PABEW in relation to draft regulations in respect of police pension arrangements.
372.Subsection (2) inserts new section 25A into the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 which makes similar provision about regulations governing the duty, leave, pay or equipment of members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland as new section 52A of the Police Act 1996 (as inserted by section 133) does in relation to police officers in England and Wales. Subsection (3) amends section 41 of into the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 to make like provision about regulations governing the hours, leave, pay or equipment of police trainees (the changes do not affect regulations made under section 41 in relation to police reserve trainees).