Police function consultation closed

Submissions due to be considered

The public's view on the principle of the contracting out of two police functions has been collected and the consultation is closed.

Departmental officials will now assess the responses received and discuss them with the Home Affairs Minister and senior colleagues.

The police force has been facing an ever squeezed budget in recent years and the idea of contracting out functions relating to police custody could release officers to concentrate on other tasks.

It's being stressed in the consultation that if these services were contracted out, the focus would be on ensuring those in custody were secure and safe.

The second part of the draft order concerns the investigation of complaints or referrals.

It's recently become apparent that there were some practical difficulties in getting assistance from outside. The proposals would provide a wider range of options.

As of Tuesday this week, there had been 17 submissions to the consultation. These will be considered and any future course of action decided upon.