Northern Ireland Policing Board (NIPB)

The NI Policing Board was set up to make sure the police service does a good job for everyone in our community. It is independent of the Minister for Justice. This means the Minister for Justice cannot tell the Board what to do. The Board hires (and can fire) the Chief Constable and other top police officers and staff. It makes a plan for policing and decides on some payments police officers get if they get hurt when doing their job. The Board also works to get the public to support the police.

The Board’s main job is asking the Chief Constable questions to see how well the police are doing – it holds the Chief Constable to account. The Board also makes sure the police meet their duties under the Human Rights Act. The Chief Constable comes to talk to the Board and answer their questions. This happens once a month and anyone can attend or watch the meetings online.

You can find out more about how the Policing Board delivers on its legal duty to hold the Chief Constable to account on the Policing Board website