Section 101: Provision of goods and services by police authorities
507.The Local Authorities Goods and Services Act 1970 provides that a local authority may supply goods and services to any public body. Under section 18 of the 1996 Act, the provisions of the 1970 Act apply to any police authority established under section 3 of the 1996 Act, and, following amendment by the Greater London Authority Act 1999, to the Metropolitan Police Authority. The reference in the 1970 Act to “any public body” was widened in section 18 to read “any person”.
508.Consequently, police authorities benefit by being able to supply, by agreement, goods and services to any person.
509.The Common Council of the City of London was not established as a police authority under section 3 of the Act and has therefore not been able to benefit in the same way as other authorities. The purpose of the amendment in this section is to bring the Common Council in line with other police authorities.
510.The provision amends section 18 of the 1996 Act.
511.New subsection (1)(b) will enable the Common Council of the City of London, in its capacity as Police Authority to the City of London Police, to be able to benefit, as other police authorities do, from the Local Authorities Goods and Services Act 1970.