HC Deb 27 March 2003 vol 402 cc537-8
Angela Smith

I beg to move amendment No. 15, in page 13, line 22, leave out 'as a police officer'.

Mr. Deputy Speaker (Sir Michael Lord)

With this it will be convenient to discuss Government amendments Nos. 16 and 17.

Angela Smith

It is amazing how quickly we can move on when our minds are focused.

The purpose of the clause is to provide full protection to police officers who make protected disclosures. The clause has the support of the Chief Constable and the ombudsman, and replicates provisions contained in the Police Reform Act 2002.

We decided that the provision currently made by the clause needed to be refined to include not only members of the PSNI and the PSNI Reserve but also members of the National Criminal Intelligence Service and the harbour police. The purpose of the amendment is to rectify that matter and to make provision for those individuals consistent with the provisions of the Police Reform Act 2002.

Amendment agreed to.

Amendments made: No. 16, in page 13, line 23, leave out 'Chief Constable' and insert 'relevant officer'.

No. 17, in page 13, line 25, after 'accordingly', insert— '(3) In this Article "the relevant officer"—

  1. (a) in relation to a police officer, means the Chief Constable;
  2. (b) in relation to a person holding office under section 9(1)(b) of the Police Act 1997 (police members of the National Criminal Intelligence Service) means the Director General of the National Criminal Intelligence Service; and
  3. (c) in relation to any other person holding the office of constable, means the person who has the direction and control of the body of constables in question:.—[Keith Hill.]

It being Six o'clock, MR. DEPUTY SPEAKER, pursuant to Orders [10 February and 26 March] , put forthwith the Questions necessary for the disposal of the business to be concluded at that hour.

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