Police Act 1996

101 Interpretation

(1) Except where the context otherwise requires, in this Act—

• “chief officer of police” means—

  (a)

  in relation to a police force maintained under section 2, the chief constable,

  (b)

  in relation to the metropolitan police force, the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, and

  (c)

  in relation to the City of London police force, the Commissioner of Police for the City of London ;

• “City of London police area” means the City of London as defined for the purposes of the Acts relating to the City of London police force;

• “metropolitan police district” means that district as defined in section 76 of the [1963 c. 33.] London Government Act 1963;

• “police area” means a police area provided for by section 1;

• “police authority” means—

  (a)

  in relation to a police area listed in Schedule 1, the authority established under section 3,

  (b)

  in relation to the metropolitan police district, the Secretary of State, and

  (c)

  in relation to the City of London police area, the Common Council;

• “police force” means a force maintained by a police authority;

• “police fund” means—

  (a)

  in relation to a force maintained under section 2, the fund kept by that force’s police authority under section 14,

  (b)

  in relation to the metropolitan police force, the metropolitan police fund, and

  (c)

  in relation to the City of London police force, the fund out of which the expenses of that force are paid.

(2) In this Act“police purposes”, in relation to a police area, includes the purposes of—

(a) special constables appointed for that area,

(b) police cadets undergoing training with a view to becoming members of the police force maintained for that area, and

(c) civilians employed for the purposes of that force or of any such special constables or cadets.