Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003

Information, &c.

56 Reports by Chief Constable

(1) As soon as is reasonably practicable after the end of each financial year the Chief Constable shall submit to the Authority a report about the policing of the railways in that year.

(2) The Chief Constable shall publish a report submitted by him under subsection (1).

(3) The Authority may require the Chief Constable to submit a report on specified matters connected with the performance of his functions.

(4) The Authority may publish, or require the Chief Constable to publish, a report submitted under subsection (3).

(5) But if the Chief Constable thinks that publication of all or part of a report under subsection (3) would be unnecessary, or undesirable for reasons of public interest—

(a) he may require the Authority to refer to the Secretary of State the question whether that report or part should be published, and

(b) the report or part shall be published only if the Secretary of State directs that it should be published.

57 Annual report by Authority

(1) As soon as is reasonably practicable after the end of each financial year the Authority shall issue a report about the policing of the railways in that year.

(2) The Authority’s report for a year must include an assessment of the extent to which—

(a) the objectives set for the year under section 50 have been achieved,

(b) the arrangements set out in the railways policing plan for the year under section 52 have been implemented, and

(c) the strategies set out in the relevant three-year strategy plan under section 55 have been implemented.

(3) The Authority shall—

(a) publish each report under this section, and

(b) send a copy of each report under this section to the Secretary of State.

58 Other reports to Secretary of State

(1) The Secretary of State may by direction require the Authority to submit a report on specified matters connected with the performance of its functions.

(2) The Secretary of State may by direction require the Chief Constable to submit a report on specified matters connected with the performance of his functions.

(3) The Authority or Chief Constable shall submit a report required by direction under this section—

(a) in such form as may be specified in the direction, and

(b) within such period as may be specified in the direction.

(4) The Secretary of State may—

(a) publish a report received under this section;

(b) require the author of the report to arrange for its publication.

59 Statistics

(1) The Secretary of State may require the Chief Constable to supply information about matters relating to crime committed on or in connection with the railways.

(2) In particular, the Secretary of State may require information about—

(a) offences committed;

(b) offenders;

(c) criminal proceedings.

(3) The Chief Constable shall supply information required under this section at such times and in such form as the Secretary of State requires.

(4) Where the Secretary of State receives information under this section he shall lay it or a summary of it before Parliament.

60 Inquiry

(1) The Secretary of State may appoint a person to inquire into a matter connected with the Police Force.

(2) The Secretary of State may require a person appointed under this section to conduct the inquiry in public or in private.

(3) A person appointed under this section may summon a person to attend at a specified time and place—

(a) to give evidence;

(b) to produce a document.

(4) Where the Secretary of State receives a report of an inquiry under this section he shall, in so far as he thinks it in the public interest, publish a summary of the report.

(5) In the application of this section to an inquiry held in Scotland subsection (3) shall have effect as if for “summon” there were substituted “cite”.

61 Inquiry: supplemental

(1) A person appointed under section 60 may—

(a) require evidence to be given on oath, and

(b) for that purpose, administer an oath.

(2) A person appointed under section 60 may not require the production of a document relating to the title of land which is not the property of the Authority.

(3) A person commits an offence if without reasonable excuse he—

(a) fails to comply with a summons under section 60, or

(b) obstructs or fails to co-operate with an inquiry under that section.

(4) A person has a reasonable excuse for failure to comply with a summons if he is not offered payment of the reasonable costs of compliance.

(5) A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (3) shall be liable on summary conviction to—

(a) a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale,

(b) imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks, or

(c) both.

(6) The Secretary of State may direct the Authority to pay all or part of the costs incurred by a person in connection with an inquiry under section 60.

(7) A direction under subsection (6) may include provision for taxation of costs.

(8) In the application of this section in relation to an inquiry held in Scotland subsections (3) and (4) shall have effect as if for “summons” there were substituted “citation”.

62 Public consultation

(1) The Authority shall make, and review from time to time, arrangements to obtain the opinions about the policing of the railways of—

(a) passengers on the railways,

(b) groups of persons representing passengers on the railways,

(c) persons providing railway services,

(d) organisations representing persons providing railway services,

(e) employees of persons providing railway services,

(f) organisations representing employees of persons providing railway services,

(g) the Scottish Ministers,

(h) the National Assembly for Wales,

(i) organisations representing local authorities in England,

(j) the Strategic Rail Authority,

(k) the Office of Rail Regulation,

(l) the Rail Accident Investigation Branch,

(m) the Health and Safety Commission,

(n) the Health and Safety Executive, and

(o) other persons with an interest in the railways whom the Authority thinks it appropriate to consult.

(2) The Authority shall make, and review from time to time, arrangements to invite the co-operation of the persons listed in subsection (1) in preventing crime on the railways.

(3) Before making or reviewing arrangements under this section the Authority shall—

(a) consult the Chief Constable, and

(b) have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.

(4) The Secretary of State may—

(a) issue guidance about arrangements under this section;

(b) require the Authority to report to him on arrangements under this section;

(c) require the Authority to review arrangements under this section.