Police Act 1996

1. Introductory Text

2. Part I Organisation of Police Forces

   1. Police areas

      1. 1. Police areas.

   2. Forces outside London

      1. 2. Maintenance of police forces.

      2. 3. Establishment of police authorities.

      3. 4. Membership of police authorities etc.

      4. 5. Reductions in size of police authorities.

      5. 6. General functions of police authorities.

      6. 7. Local policing objectives.

      7. 8. Local policing plans.

      8. 9. Annual reports by police authorities.

      9. 10. General functions of chief constables.

      10. 11. Appointment and removal of chief constables.

      11. 12. Assistant chief constables.

      12. 13. Other members of police forces.

      13. 14. Police fund.

      14. 15. Civilian employees.

      15. 16. Appointment of clerk.

      16. 17. Appointment of persons not employed by police authorities.

      17. 18. Supply of goods and services.

      18. 19. Approval of decisions about precepts.

      19. 20. Questions on police matters at council meetings.

      20. 21. Application of certain provisions to police authorities.

   3. General provisions

      1. 22. Reports by chief constables to police authorities.

      2. 23. Collaboration agreements.

      3. 24. Aid of one police force by another.

      4. 25. Provision of special services.

      5. 26. Provision of advice and assistance to international organisations etc.

      6. 27. Special constables.

      7. 28. Police cadets.

      8. 29. Attestation of constables.

      9. 30. Jurisdiction of constables.

      10. 31. Rewards for diligence.

   4. Alteration of police areas

      1. 32. Power to alter police areas by order.

      2. 33. Objections to alterations proposed by Secretary of State.

      3. 34. Orders altering police areas: supplementary provisions.

   5. Supplemental

      1. 35. The Scilly Isles.

3. Part II Central Supervision, Direction and Facilities

   1. Functions of Secretary of State

      1. 36. General duty of Secretary of State.

      2. 37. Setting of objectives for police authorities.

      3. 38. Setting of performance targets.

      4. 39. Codes of practice.

      5. 40. Power to give directions to police authorities after adverse reports.

      6. 41. Directions as to minimum budget.

      7. 42. Removal of chief constables, etc.

      8. 43. Reports from police authorities.

      9. 44. Reports from chief constables.

      10. 45. Criminal statistics.

      11. 46. Police grant.

      12. 47. Grants for capital expenditure.

      13. 48. Grants for expenditure on safeguarding national security.

      14. 49. Local inquiries.

      15. 50. Regulations for police forces.

      16. 51. Regulations for special constables.

      17. 52. Regulations for police cadets.

      18. 53. Regulations as to standard of equipment.

   2. Inspectors of constabulary

      1. 54. Appointment and functions of inspectors of constabulary.

      2. 55. Publication of reports.

      3. 56. Assistant inspectors and staff officers.

   3. Central services

      1. 57. Common services.

      2. 58. Research.

4. Part III Police Representative Institutions

   1. 59. Police Federations.

   2. 60. Regulations for Police Federations.

   3. 61. The Police Negotiating Board for the United Kingdom.

   4. 62. Functions of the Board with respect to regulations.

   5. 63. Police Advisory Boards for England and Wales and for Scotland.

   6. 64. Membership of trade unions.

5. Part IV Complaints, disciplinary proceedings etc.

   1. Chapter I Complaints

      1. Interpretation

         1. 65. Interpretation of Chapter I.

      2. The Police Complaints Authority

         1. 66. The Police Complaints Authority.

      3. Handling of Complaints etc.

         1. 67. Preliminary.

         2. 68. Investigation of complaints: senior officers.

         3. 69. Investigation of complaints: standard procedure.

         4. 70. References of complaints to Authority.

         5. 71. References of other matters to Authority.

         6. 72. Supervision of investigations by Authority.

         7. 73. Reports on investigations etc.

         8. 74. Steps to be taken after investigation: senior officers.

         9. 75. Steps to be taken after investigation: standard procedure.

         10. 76. Powers of Authority as to disciplinary proceedings.

         11. 77. Information as to the manner of dealing with complaints etc.

         12. 78. Constabularies maintained by authorities other than police authorities.

         13. 79. Reports.

         14. 80. Restriction on disclosure of information.

         15. 81. Regulations.

         16. 82. Regulations supplementary.

         17. 83. Guidance concerning complaints etc.

   2. Chapter II Disciplinary and other proceedings

      1. 84. Representation at disciplinary and other proceedings.

      2. 85. Appeals against dismissal etc.

      3. 86. Admissibility of statements in subsequent proceedings.

      4. 87. Guidance concerning disciplinary proceedings etc.

      5. 88. Liability for wrongful acts of constables.

6. Part V Miscellaneous and General

   1. Offences

      1. 89. Assaults on constables.

      2. 90. Impersonation, etc.

      3. 91. Causing disaffection.

   2. Miscellaneous financial provisions

      1. 92. Grants by local authorities.

      2. 93. Acceptance of gifts and loans.

      3. 94. Financing of new police authorities.

      4. 95. Metropolitan and City of London police funds.

   3. Miscellaneous

      1. 96. Arrangements for obtaining the views of the community on policing.

      2. 97. Police officers engaged on service outside their force.

      3. 98. Cross-border aid of one police force by another.

      4. 99. Jurisdiction of metropolitan police officers.

      5. 100. Chief constables affected by police area alterations or local government reorganisations.

   4. Supplemental

      1. 101. Interpretation.

      2. 102. Orders, rules and regulations.

      3. 103. Consequential amendments, transitional provisions, repeals, etc.

      4. 104. Commencement.

      5. 105. Extent.

      6. 106. Short title.

7. SCHEDULES:

   1. Schedule 1

      Police areas.

   2. Schedule 2

      Police authorities established under section 3.

   3. Schedule 3

      Police authorities: selection of independent members.

   4. Schedule 4

      Form of declaration.

   5. Schedule 5

      The Police Complaints Authority.

   6. Schedule 6

      Appeals to police appeals tribunals.

   7. Schedule 7

      Consequential amendments.

      1. Part I References to police authorities established under section 3 of Police Act 19641964.

      2. Part II Other consequential amendments.

   8. Schedule 8

      Transitional provisions, savings etc.

      1. Part I General Provisions.

      2. Part II Provisions relating to particular enactments.

      3. Part III Provisions relating to complaints and discipline.

   9. Schedule 9

      Repeals and revocations.

      1. Part I Repeals: general.

      2. Part II Repeals consequential on new discipline and complaints procedures.

      3. Part III Revocations.