Police Reform Act 2002

Police Reform Act 2002

2002 CHAPTER 30

The Act

Commentary on Sections

Part 6: Miscellaneous

Section 98: Secretary of State’s functions in relation to strategies

483. This section inserts a new section 6A in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, which requires the formulation and implementation of local strategies for the reduction of crime and disorder.

484. New section 6A(1) provides for the Secretary of State by order subject to the negative resolution procedure to require responsible authorities to make provision in their strategies for specified areas of crime or disorder. It also makes provision for the Secretary of State by order subject to the negative resolution procedure to require responsible authorities in England to ensure that any strategies combating the misuse of drugs encompass such other forms of substance misuse as the order specifies. This would enable bringing the remit of English responsible authorities into line with that of their Welsh counterparts.

485. New section 6A(2) requires that responsible authorities submit a copy of their strategies, and a copy of the documents required under section 6(5), to the Secretary of State. The documents referred to under section 6(5) must include a list of co-operating persons and bodies, the reviews discussed in section 97, a report based on the review, and the strategy – including objectives, lead groups pursuing those objectives, and performance targets. New section 6A(3) stipulates that responsible authorities must have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State on the form and content for the publication of any document to be published under section 6(5). New section 6A(4) provides that any proposed changes by the responsible authorities to their strategies must also be sent to the Secretary of State.

486. New section 6A(5) states that all references to the Secretary of State in new sections 6A(2) to 6A(4) refer, in relation to a local government area in Wales, to the National Assembly for Wales as well as the Secretary of State. Consequently, the power to issue guidance is only exercisable by the Secretary of State and the National Assembly for Wales acting jointly.

487. New section 6A(6) provides definitions of terms used in the section.