§ Mr. Peter RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what powers of arrest officers from the Police Ombudsman's Office of Northern Ireland have over civilians. [156689]
§ Jane KennedyThe Police and Criminal Evidence (Application to Police Ombudsman) Order (Northern Ireland) 2000 provides that certain powers set out in the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989, including some general powers of arrest, will apply in relation to formal investigations by the Ombudsman under section 56 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998. In addition, section 56(3) of that Act gives certain officers of the Ombudsman, for the purpose of conducting or assisting in the conduct of a formal investigation, the powers and privileges of a constable and these would include a power to arrest civilians.