Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003

Planning

50 Policing objectives: Authority

(1) Before the beginning of each financial year the Authority shall set objectives for policing the railways during that year.

(2) The objectives—

(a) may relate to a matter addressed by objectives set by the Secretary of State under section 51, and

(b) must be consistent with those objectives.

(3) In setting the objectives for a year the Authority shall—

(a) consult the Chief Constable,

(b) have regard to opinions expressed in accordance with section 62,

(c) have regard to objectives set for that year by the Secretary of State under section 37 of the Police Act 1996, and

(d) have regard to the National Policing Plan for that year.

51 Policing objectives: Secretary of State

(1) The Secretary of State may by direction to the Authority set objectives for policing the railways during a financial year.

(2) The Secretary of State shall publish a direction under this section.

(3) Before giving a direction under this section the Secretary of State shall consult—

(a) the Authority, and

(b) the Chief Constable.

(4) Before giving a direction under this section the Secretary of State shall consider any representations made to him by the Scottish Ministers on the matter of objectives for policing the railways in Scotland.

52 Railways policing plan

(1) Before the beginning of each financial year the Authority shall issue a plan setting out the proposed arrangements for policing the railways during that year.

(2) The plan for a year must include a statement of—

(a) the Authority’s priorities for the year,

(b) the financial resources which the Authority expects to be available, and

(c) the proposed allocation of resources.

(3) The plan for a year must specify—

(a) any objective set by the Authority for that year under section 50,

(b) any objective by the Secretary of State for the year under section 51, and

(c) any performance target set by the Authority in relation to the achievement of an objective for that year (whether set under section 53 or otherwise).

(4) A plan for a year must be consistent with the relevant three-year strategy plan issued by the Authority under section 55.

(5) The Chief Constable shall submit to the Authority a draft plan for each financial year.

(6) Before issuing a plan which differs from the Chief Constable’s draft the Authority shall consult him.

(7) In preparing a plan the Chief Constable and the Authority shall have regard to any guidance given by the Secretary of State about local policing plans under section 8(4A) of the Police Act 1996 (c. 16).

(8) The Authority shall—

(a) publish each plan under this section, and

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

53 Performance targets

(1) The Secretary of State may by direction to the Authority require it to set a target in relation to the achievement of an objective set under section 51.

(2) A direction may specify a condition which a target must satisfy.

(3) The Secretary of State shall publish a direction under this section.

(4) Before giving a direction under this section the Secretary of State shall consider any representations made to him by the Scottish Ministers on the matter of targets for policing the railways in Scotland.

54 Performance directions

(1) The Secretary of State may give a direction to the Authority containing provision of a kind which he could make in respect of a best value authority—

(a) by order under section 4 of the Local Government Act 1999 (c. 27) (performance indicators and standards), or

(b) in guidance under section 5(6) of that Act (performance targets and plans of action).

(2) The Secretary of State shall publish a direction under this section.

(3) Before giving a direction the Secretary of State shall consult—

(a) the Authority, and

(b) any other person that he thinks appropriate.

55 Three-year strategy plan

(1) The Authority shall before the beginning of each consecutive period of three financial years issue a plan which sets out the authority’s medium-term and long-term strategies for policing the railways during that period.

(2) For the purposes of this section—

(a) subsections (2) to (12), (14) and (15) of section 6A of the Police Act 1996 (c. 16) (three-year strategy plans) shall have effect (with any necessary modification), and

(b) guidance and regulations made under that section shall, in the absence of special provision, be taken to apply (with any necessary modification).

(3) In the application of section 6A(5) and (10) of that Act to this section the reference to the National Policing Plan shall be taken to include a reference to any objective or performance target set under section 51 or 53 of this Act.