15.This section sets out the administrative arrangements governing police support staff.  It replaces section 3 of the 1998 Act, with some amendment.
16.Subsections (1)-(4) enable the Policing Board, with the approval of the Secretary of State, directly to employ staff or to make arrangements for the secondment of civil servants to assist the police.
17.Subsection (5) makes it clear that the Chief Constable is responsible for the management of police support staff.  This includes the power to engage and dismiss directly recruited staff other than senior employees – where appointment and dismissal will be dealt with by the Board.  Seconded civil servants are appointed through the Civil Service Commission for Northern Ireland and may not be dismissed as civil servants by the Chief Constable.
18.Subsection (6) defines the term “police support staff”.  It means those staff who are employed by, or seconded to, the Policing Board, and under the direction and control of the Chief Constable.  It does not include staff working for the Board itself about whom provision is made by Part IV of Schedule 1 to the Act.
19.These arrangements are much the same as those already applying to police support staff under existing legislation.  The main change is that the Board will appoint senior members of the support staff.  While in employment, senior employees will be under the direction and control of the Chief Constable, but the power to engage and dismiss will reside with the Board.
Commentary Part Ii: the Northern Ireland Policing Board Section 4: Police Support Staff