Police Reform Act 2002

80 Functions of inspectors of constabulary

Before section 5 of the Ministry of Defence Police Act 1987 (c. 4) there shall be inserted—

“4B Functions of inspectors of constabulary

(1) The inspectors of constabulary shall inspect, and report to the Secretary of State on, the efficiency and effectiveness of the Ministry of Defence Police.

(2) The Secretary of State may at any time require the inspectors of constabulary to carry out an inspection under this section of the Ministry of Defence Police and to report to him on that inspection.

(3) A requirement under subsection (2) may include a requirement for the inspection to be confined to a particular part of the Ministry of Defence Police, to particular matters or to particular activities of the Ministry of Defence Police.

(4) The inspectors of constabulary shall carry out such other duties for the purposes of furthering the efficiency and effectiveness of the Ministry of Defence Police as the Secretary of State may from time to time direct.

(5) Before carrying out any inspection by virtue of subsection (1) in Scotland, the inspectors of constabulary shall consult the Scottish inspectors with respect to the scope and conduct of the proposed inspection.

(6) In this section—

• “the inspectors of constabulary” means Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Constabulary appointed under section 54 of the Police Act 1996 (c. 16);

• “the Scottish inspectors” means the inspectors of constabulary appointed under section 33 of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967 (c. 77).

4C Publication of reports

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, the Secretary of State shall arrange for any report received by him under section 4B above to be published in such manner as appears to him to be appropriate.

(2) The Secretary of State may exclude from publication under subsection (1) above any part of a report if, in his opinion, the publication of that part—

(a) would be against the interests of national security; or

(b) might jeopardise the safety of any person.

(3) The Secretary of State shall—

(a) send a copy of the published report to the chief constable of the Ministry of Defence Police; and

(b) invite the chief constable to submit comments on the published report to the Secretary of State before such date as the Secretary of State may specify.

(4) The Secretary of State shall arrange for—

(a) any comments submitted by the chief constable in accordance with subsection (3) above, and

(b) any response that the Secretary of State may prepare to the published report or to any comments submitted by the chief constable,

to be published in such manner as he considers appropriate.”