§ Lord Maginnis of Drumglassasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their response to the Police Board for Northern Ireland requiring councils to add candidates for interview for District Police 102WA Partnerships, after the shortlisting process has been completed; and whether such a practice could properly be applied in all public appointment processes in Northern Ireland. [HL3289]
§ Baroness AmosIn accordance with paragraph 6(2) of Schedule 3 to the Police (NI) Act 2000 the Secretary of State may issue a code of practice containing guidelines as to the exercise by district councils and the Northern Ireland Policing Board of their functions in the nomination and appointments process for independent members of District Policing Partnerships. Under this code which issued in August 2002, and now Section 14 of Police (NI) Act 2003, the board shall secure that the board shall so far as practicable secure that the membership of the District Policing Partnerships is representative of the community in the council area.
In the case of the Dungannon and South Tyrone DPP the policing hoard decided to hold a supplementary competition to achieve a pool of appointable candidates for a DPP to be established that would be representative. This was no fault of the district council. Candidates from this supplementary competition are in addition to those nominated by the council to the policing board in December 2002.
Arrangements for other public appointments are governed by their respective codes of practice where appropriate and OCPA guidelines.
§ Lord Maginnis of Drumglassasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they have taken in response to the Police Board for Northern Ireland imposing a late applicant for interview, after the shortlisting process had been completed, for the Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council's District Police Partnership. [HL3290]
§ Baroness AmosThe management of the appointment process for the independent members of District Policing Partnerships is a matter for the Northern Ireland Policing Board. A team of impartial assessors was appointed by the board to oversee the process. Their role was to assess the process for openness, transparency, probity and effectiveness, to ensure compliance with OCPA guidance and the code of practice for the appointment of independent members produced by the NIO, and to report to the Northern Ireland Policing Board.
The impartial assessors' report was published in June 2003. They found the appointment process to be fair, robust, open and transparent. However they did make a recommendation about the handling of late applications. This recommendation will he reflected in the NIO's code of practice which is currently being revised prior to issue for consultation.