Police Act 1996

50 Regulations for police forces. E+W

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, the Secretary of State may make regulations as to the government, administration and conditions of service of police forces.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), regulations under this section may make provision with respect to—

(a) the ranks to be held by members of police forces;

(b) the qualifications for appointment and promotion of members of police forces;

(c) periods of service on probation;

(d) voluntary retirement of members of police forces;

(e) the conduct, efficiency and effectiveness of members of police forces and the maintenance of discipline;

(f) the suspension of members of a police force from membership of that force and from their office as constable;

(g) the maintenance of personal records of members of police forces;

(h) the duties which are or are not to be performed by members of police forces;

(i) the treatment as occasions of police duty of attendance at meetings of the Police Federations and of any body recognised by the Secretary of State for the purposes of section 64;

(j) the hours of duty, leave, pay and allowances of members of police forces; and

(k) the issue, use and return of police clothing, personal equipment and accoutrements.

[F1 (2A) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) or (2), regulations under this section may make provision with respect to the procedures to be followed by police and crime commissioners, or the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime, in exercising—

(a) powers of suspension, or

(b) powers of removal,

(whether, in the case of the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime, on their own initiative or in compliance with a requirement imposed by the Secretary of State).

(2B) In subsection (2A)—

• “power of removal” means—

  (a)

  the power conferred on police and crime commissioners by section 38(3) of the 2011 Act to require chief constables to retire or resign;

  (b)

  the power conferred on the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime by section 48(3) of the 2011 Act to require the Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to retire or resign;

• “power of suspension” means—

  (a)

  the power conferred on police and crime commissioners by section 38(2) of the 2011 Act to suspend chief constables;

  (b)

  the power conferred on the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime by section 48(1) of the 2011 Act to suspend the Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis;

and for this purpose “2011 Act” means the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011.]

[F2 (3) Without prejudice to the powers conferred by this section, regulations under this section shall—

(a) establish, or

(b) make provision for the establishment of,

procedures for the taking of disciplinary proceedings in respect of the conduct, efficiency and effectiveness of members of police forces, including procedures for cases in which such persons may be dealt with by dismissal.]

(4) In relation to any matter as to which provision may be made by regulations under this section, the regulations mayF3 ... —

(a) authorise or require provision to be made by, or confer discretionary powers on, the Secretary of State, [F4 local policing bodies], chief officers of police or other persons, or

(b) authorise or require the delegation by any person of functions conferred on that person by or under the regulations.

(5) Regulations under this section for regulating pay and allowances may be made with retrospective effect to any date specified in the regulations, but nothing in this subsection shall be construed as authorising pay or allowances payable to any person to be reduced retrospectively.

(6) Regulations under this section as to conditions of service shall secure that appointments for fixed terms are not made except where the person appointed holds the rank of superintendent or a higher rank.

[F5 (6A) Without prejudice to the powers conferred by this section, regulations under this section may make provision with respect to—

(a) steps to be taken in connection with the appointment of senior officers;

(b) payments to senior officers who cease to hold office before the end of a fixed term appointment.

(6B) In subsection (6A) “senior officer” means—

(a) a member of a police force holding a rank above that of chief superintendent;

(b) the Commissioner of Police for the City of London.]

(7) Regulations under this section may make different provision for different cases and circumstances.

(8) Any statutory instrument containing regulations under this section shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 50(2A)(2B) inserted (15.12.2011) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 82(12), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 2(c)

F2 S. 50(3) substituted (3.11.2008 for specified purposes, 1.12.2008 in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), s. 153(7), Sch. 22 para. 3(2); S.I. 2008/2712, art. 2, Sch. para. 16(b) (with art. 4); S.I. 2008/2993, art. 2(1)(h)(i) (with art. 3)

F3 Words in s. 50(4) repealed (3.11.2008 for specified purposes, 1.12.2008 in so far as not already in force) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), s. 153(7), Sch. 22 para. 3(3), Sch. 28 Pt. 8; S.I. 2008/2712, art. 2, Sch. para. 16(b) (with art. 4); S.I. 2008/2993, art. 2(1)(h)(i) (with art. 3)

F4 Words in s. 50(4)(a) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 32; S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F5 S. 50(6A)(6B) inserted (19.4.2010) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), ss. 3, 116(1); S.I. 2010/999, art. 2(a)

Commencement Information

I1 S. 50 wholly in force at 1.4.1999; s. 50(1)(2)(4)-(8) in force at 23.8.1996, see s. 104(1)(2); s. 50(3) in force at 1.4.1999 by S.I. 1999/533, art. 2