Commentary on Sections Review bodies for police remuneration etc Section 132: Establishment of Police Remuneration Review Body
353.Subsection (1) inserts a new Part 3A (comprising new sections 64A and 64B and new Schedule 4B) into the Police Act 1996, which provides for the “Police Remuneration Review Body” (“PRRB”). New section 64A(1) establishes the PRRB. New section 64A(2) sets out the composition of the PRRB; it is to comprise a chair appointed by the Prime Minister and five or more other members appointed by the Secretary of State, one of whom may be appointed by the Secretary of State as a deputy chair. New section 64A(3) requires the Prime Minister or Secretary of State to consult the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland before making an appointment to the PRRB. New section 64A(4) and (5) enables the Secretary of State to change the name of the PRRB by order subject to the negative resolution procedure.
354.New section 64B(1) requires the PRRB to consider and report on any matter which is referred to it by the Secretary of State and that relates to one of the following issues for police officers of or below the rank of chief superintendent in England and Wales, or for police cadets appointed under section 28 of the Police Act 1996: hours of duty; leave; pay and allowances; and the issue, use and return of clothing, personal equipment and accoutrements. New section 64B(2) requires the PRRB to submit such reports to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State, which the latter must then arrange to be published.
355.New section 64B(3) and (4) make similar provision for Northern Ireland to new section 64B(1) and (2).
356.New section 64B(5) sets out the directions that the Secretary of State and/or the Northern Ireland Department of Justice may give to the PRRB. The PRRB can be directed to: report within a specified time period; have regard to particular considerations; obtain specific evidence such as data from police forces; and make recommendations on specific matters referred to it such as named allowances, for example the Northern Ireland Transitional Allowance. New section 64B(6) enables the PRRB to include in its report any recommendations it considers to be appropriate, which it considers to arise out of the matters referred to it under section 64B(5) regardless of whether or not it is directly given a direction to do so under new section 64B(5). New section 64B(7) enables the Secretary of State or Department of Justice to vary or revoke any references or directions to the PRRB.
357.Subsection (2) gives effect to Schedule 7 which inserts new Schedule 4B into the Police Act 1996.