Greater London Authority Act 1999

National and international functions of metropolitan police

104 After section 96 of the [1996 c. 16.] Police Act 1996 there shall be inserted—

“96A National and international functions of the metropolitan police

(1) The Secretary of State and the Metropolitan Police Authority may enter into agreements with respect to the level of performance to be achieved by the metropolitan police force in respect of any of its national or international functions.

(2) If the Secretary of State is of the opinion that the metropolitan police force is not performing any or all of its national or international functions—

(a) to the standard specified in any agreement in force under subsection (1), or

(b) if no agreement is in force under that subsection in relation to the function or functions in question, to a standard which the Secretary of State considers to be satisfactory,

he may direct the Metropolitan Police Authority to take such measures as may be specified in the direction.

(3) The Metropolitan Police Authority shall comply with any directions given under subsection (2).

(4) For the purposes of this section “national or international functions” means functions relating to—

(a) the protection of prominent persons or their residences,

(b) national security,

(c) counter-terrorism, or

(d) the provision of services for any other national or international purpose.

96B National and international functions: application of requirements relating to reports etc

(1) In its application to the Metropolitan Police Authority, section 6 shall have effect as if the reference in subsection (1) to securing the maintenance of an efficient and effective police force for the metropolitan police district included a reference to securing that that force discharges its national or international functions efficiently and effectively.

(2) In its application to the Metropolitan Police Authority, section 7(1) shall have effect as if the reference to the policing of the metropolitan police district included a reference to the discharge by the metropolitan police force of its national or international functions.

(3) In its application to the Metropolitan Police Authority, section 8 shall have effect as if—

(a) the reference in subsection (1) to the policing of the metropolitan police district included a reference to the discharge by the metropolitan police force of its national or international functions, and

(b) the reference in subsection (2)(c) to any performance targets established by the Authority excluded any standards of performance established by it in pursuance of an agreement under subsection (1) of section 96A or a direction under subsection (2) of that section.

(4) In its application to the Metropolitan Police Authority, section 9(1) shall have effect as if the reference to the policing of the metropolitan police district included a reference to the discharge by the metropolitan police force of its national or international functions.

(5) In their application to the metropolitan police force, sections 22 and 44 shall have effect as if references to policing the metropolitan police district included references to the discharge by the metropolitan police force of its national or international functions.

(6) Section 95(1) and (3) of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (minimum budget for Metropolitan Police Authority) shall have effect as if the references to restoring or maintaining an efficient and effective police force for the metropolitan police district included references to securing that that force discharges its national or international functions efficiently and effectively.

(7) Subsection (4) of section 96A shall apply for the purposes of this section as it applies for the purposes of that section.”