Police Act 1997

Part I The National Criminal Intelligence Service

The Service Authority

1 The Service Authority for the National Criminal Intelligence Service

(1) There shall be a body corporate to be known as the Service Authority for the National Criminal Intelligence Service (in this Part referred to as “the NCIS Service Authority”).

(2) Subject to the following provisions of this section, the NCIS Service Authority shall consist of nineteen members.

(3) The Secretary of State may by order provide that the number of members shall be a specified odd number greater than nineteen.

(4) Before making an order under subsection (3), the Secretary of State shall consult—

(a) the NCIS Service Authority (if it is then in existence),

(b) persons whom the Secretary of State considers to represent the interests of the authorities who between them maintain the police forces in Great Britain and the Royal Ulster Constabulary,

(c) persons whom the Secretary of State considers to represent the interests of chief officers of police of police forces in England and Wales, chief constables of police forces in Scotland and the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, and

(d) the Commissioners of Customs and Excise.

(5) A statutory instrument containing an order under subsection (3) shall be laid before Parliament after being made.

(6) The NCIS Service Authority may co-opt such additional members as it thinks fit.

(7) Parts I, II and IV of Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 shall have effect in relation to the NCIS Service Authority.

Functions

2 General functions of the NCIS Service Authority and NCIS

(1) The NCIS Service Authority shall maintain a body to be known as the National Criminal Intelligence Service (in this Part referred to as “NCIS”).

(2) The functions of NCIS shall be—

(a) to gather, store and analyse information in order to provide criminal intelligence,

(b) to provide criminal intelligence to police forces in Great Britain, the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the National Crime Squad and other law enforcement agencies, and

(c) to act in support of such police forces, the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the National Crime Squad and other law enforcement agencies carrying out their criminal intelligence activities.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2), “law enforcement agency” includes—

(a) any government department,

(b) the States of Jersey Police Force, the salaried police force of the Island of Guernsey and the Isle of Man Constabulary,

(c) any other person charged with the duty of investigating offences or charging offenders, and

(d) any other person engaged outside the United Kingdom in the carrying on of activities similar to any carried on by the NCIS Service Authority, NCIS, a police authority, a police force, the NCS Service Authority or the National Crime Squad.

(4) In discharging its functions, the NCIS Service Authority shall have regard to—

(a) any objectives determined by the Secretary of State under section 26,

(b) any objectives determined by the Authority under section 3,

(c) any performance targets established by the Authority, whether in compliance with a direction under section 27 or otherwise, and

(d) any service plan issued by the Authority under section 4.

(5) In discharging any function to which a code of practice issued under section 28 relates, the NCIS Service Authority shall have regard to the code.

(6) The NCIS Service Authority shall comply with any direction given to it by the Secretary of State under section 27 or 30 or under Schedule 3.

3 Objectives

(1) The NCIS Service Authority shall secure that NCIS is efficient and effective.

(2) The NCIS Service Authority shall, before the beginning of each financial year, determine objectives for that year for NCIS.

(3) Objectives determined under this section may relate to matters to which objectives determined under section 26 also relate, or to other matters, but in any event shall be so framed as to be consistent with the objectives determined under that section.

(4) Before determining objectives under this section, the NCIS Service Authority shall consult—

(a) the Director General of NCIS,

(b) persons whom it considers to represent the interests of the authorities who between them maintain the police forces in Great Britain and the Royal Ulster Constabulary,

(c) the NCS Service Authority, and

(d) the Commissioners of Customs and Excise.

4 Service plans

(1) The NCIS Service Authority shall, before the beginning of each financial year, issue a plan setting out the proposed arrangements for the carrying out by NCIS of its functions during the year (“the service plan”).

(2) The service plan shall include a statement of the Authority’s priorities for the year, of the financial resources expected to be available and of the proposed allocation of those resources, and shall give particulars of—

(a) any objectives determined by the Secretary of State under section 26,

(b) any objectives determined by the Authority under section 3, and

(c) any performance targets established by the Authority, whether in compliance with a direction under section 27 or otherwise.

(3) A draft of the service plan shall be prepared by the Director General of NCIS and submitted by him to the Authority for it to consider.

(4) Before issuing a service plan which differs from the draft submitted by the Director General under subsection (3), the Authority shall consult the Director General.

(5) The Authority shall arrange for every service plan issued by it under this section to be published in such manner as appears to it to be appropriate, and shall send a copy of the plan to—

(a) the Secretary of State,

(b) each police authority for an area in Great Britain, each joint police board (within the meaning of the [1967 c. 77.] Police (Scotland) Act 1967) and the Police Authority for Northern Ireland,

(c) the chief officer of police of each police force in England and Wales, the chief constable of each police force in Scotland and the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary,

(d) the NCS Service Authority,

(e) the Director General of the National Crime Squad, and

(f) the Commissioners of Customs and Excise.

5 Annual reports

(1) The NCIS Service Authority shall, as soon as possible after the end of each financial year, issue a report on the carrying out of its functions during that year.

(2) A report issued under this section for any year shall include an assessment of the extent to which the service plan for that year issued under section 4 has been carried out.

(3) The NCIS Service Authority shall arrange for every report issued by it under this section to be published in such manner as appears to it to be appropriate, and shall send a copy of the report to—

(a) the Secretary of State,

(b) each police authority for an area in Great Britain, each joint police board (within the meaning of the [1967 c. 77.] Police (Scotland) Act 1967) and the Police Authority for Northern Ireland,

(c) the chief officer of police of each police force in England and Wales, the chief constable of each police force in Scotland and the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary,

(d) the NCS Service Authority,

(e) the Director General of the National Crime Squad, and

(f) the Commissioners of Customs and Excise.

Director General and other members

6 Appointment of Director General

(1) NCIS shall have a Director General appointed by the NCIS Service Authority on such terms and conditions as the Authority considers appropriate.

(2) The Director General shall be chosen by a panel of members of the Authority from a list of persons eligible for appointment which has been prepared by that panel and approved by the Secretary of State.

(3) A person shall be eligible for appointment as Director General for the purposes of subsection (2) if—

(a) he holds the rank of chief constable in a police force in Great Britain or in the Royal Ulster Constabulary,

(b) he is the Commissioner, an Assistant Commissioner or a Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis,

(c) he is the Commissioner of Police for the City of London, or

(d) he is, in accordance with regulations under section 50 of the [1996 c. 16.] Police Act 1996, section 26 of the [1967 c. 77.] Police (Scotland) Act 1967 or section 25 of the [1970 c. 9 (N.I.).] Police Act (Northern Ireland) 1970, a constable eligible for appointment to any of the ranks or posts mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c).

(4) The panel mentioned in subsection (2) shall be convened by the chairman of the NCIS Service Authority and shall consist only of members of that Authority appointed—

(a) by the Secretary of State (other than under paragraph 6, 7(f) or 8(1)(h) of Schedule 1), or

(b) by local authority members of police authorities for areas in England and Wales (as defined in paragraph 14 of that Schedule), members of police authorities for areas in Scotland or members of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland.

(5) The Director General shall, on appointment, be attested as a constable by making a declaration in the form set out in Schedule 4 to the Police Act 1996 before a justice of the peace appointed for an area in England and Wales.

(6) Without prejudice to any other enactment conferring powers on constables for particular purposes, the Director General shall have all the powers and privileges of a constable throughout England and Wales and the adjacent United Kingdom waters.

(7) The Director General shall hold the rank of chief constable.

(8) In subsection (6)—

• “powers” includes powers under any enactment, whenever passed or made;

• “United Kingdom waters” means the sea and other waters within the seaward limits of the territorial sea;

and that subsection, so far as it relates to powers under any enactment, makes them exercisable throughout the United Kingdom waters whether or not the enactment applies to those waters apart from this provision.

7 Removal of Director General by the Authority

(1) Without prejudice to section 21 or to any regulations under section 37 or under the [1976 c. 35.] Police Pensions Act 1976, the NCIS Service Authority, acting with the approval of the Secretary of State, may call upon the Director General of NCIS to retire in the interests of efficiency or effectiveness.

(2) Before seeking the approval of the Secretary of State for the purposes of subsection (1), the Authority shall give the Director General an opportunity to make representations and shall consider any representations that he makes.

(3) A Director General who is called upon to retire under subsection (1) shall retire on such date as the Authority may specify or on such earlier date as may be agreed upon between him and the Authority.

8 Deputy Director General

(1) The Director General of NCIS shall designate a member of NCIS appointed under section 9, other than a member appointed by the Director General by virtue of subsection (8) of that section, to exercise all the powers and duties of the Director General—

(a) during any absence, incapacity or suspension from duty of the Director General, or

(b) during any vacancy in the office of Director General.

(2) The Director General shall consult the NCIS Service Authority before designating a member under subsection (1).

(3) No more than one person shall be authorised to act by virtue of a designation under subsection (1) at any one time; and a person so authorised shall not have power to act by virtue of that subsection for a continuous period exceeding three months except with the consent of the Secretary of State.

9 Members of NCIS

(1) NCIS shall consist of—

(a) the Director General of NCIS appointed under section 6,

(b) persons appointed by the NCIS Service Authority under this paragraph as police members of NCIS, and

(c) other persons appointed by the NCIS Service Authority under this paragraph to be members of NCIS as employees of the Authority.

(2) A person shall be appointed as a police member of NCIS only if—

(a) he is appointed to the rank of assistant chief constable in NCIS and he met the requirements of subsection (3) immediately prior to his being appointed, or

(b) he is engaged with NCIS on a period of temporary service to which section 97 of the [1996 c. 16.] Police Act 1996, section 38A of the [1967 c. 77.] Police (Scotland) Act 1967 or section 21 of the [1970 c. 9 (N.I.).] Police Act (Northern Ireland) 1970 applies.

(3) A person meets the requirements of this subsection if—

(a) he holds the rank of assistant chief constable or a higher rank in a police force in Great Britain or in the Royal Ulster Constabulary,

(b) he holds the rank of commander or a higher rank in the metropolitan police force or in the City of London police force, or

(c) he is, in accordance with regulations under section 50 of the Police Act 1996, section 26 of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967 or section 25 of the Police Act (Northern Ireland) 1970, a constable eligible for appointment to the rank of assistant chief constable or commander in any of the police forces, or in the Constabulary, mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b).

(4) Subsections (5), (6) and (8) of section 6 apply to a police member to whom subsection (2)(a) above applies as they apply to the Director General of NCIS.

(5) A person appointed under subsection (1)(b) or (c) shall be appointed on such terms and conditions as the NCIS Service Authority considers appropriate.

(6) Before making an appointment under subsection (1)(b) or (c), or determining the terms and conditions on which such an appointment is to be made, the NCIS Service Authority shall consult the Director General of NCIS.

(7) A police member to whom subsection (2)(b) applies shall cease to be a member of NCIS at the end of his period of temporary service (unless re-appointed under this section).

(8) Where an order under section 44 authorises the NCIS Service Authority to make arrangements for the discharge of its functions by the Director General of NCIS, the Authority shall exercise its powers under that order so as to secure that, subject to subsection (9) below, the Director General appoints persons under subsection (1)(b) or (c) to be members of NCIS.

(9) Subsection (8) shall not apply to—

(a) the appointment of any person to whom subsection (2)(a) applies as a police member, or

(b) the appointment of such other persons as may be agreed between the Director General and the Authority or, in the absence of agreement, as may be determined by the Secretary of State.

(10) Section 7 applies to a member appointed under this section, other than a member appointed by the Director General by virtue of subsection (8) above, as it applies to the Director General.

Functions of Director General

10 General function of Director General

(1) NCIS shall be under the direction and control of the Director General.

(2) In discharging his functions, the Director General shall have regard to the service plan issued by the NCIS Service Authority under section 4.

11 Reports by Director General to the Authority

(1) The Director General of NCIS shall, as soon as possible after the end of each financial year, submit to the NCIS Service Authority a general report on the activities of NCIS during that year.

(2) The Director General shall arrange for a report submitted by him under subsection (1) to be published in such manner as appears to him to be appropriate.

(3) The NCIS Service Authority may require the Director General to submit to it a report on such matters connected with the activities of NCIS as may be specified in the requirement.

(4) A report submitted under subsection (3) shall be in such form as the Authority may specify.

(5) If it appears to the Director General that a report in compliance with a requirement under subsection (3) would contain information which in the public interest ought not to be disclosed, or is not needed for the discharge of the functions of the Authority, he may request the Authority to refer the requirement to the Secretary of State; and in any such case the requirement shall be of no effect unless it is confirmed by the Secretary of State.

(6) The Authority may arrange, or require the Director General to arrange, for a report submitted under subsection (3) to be published in such manner as appears to the Authority to be appropriate.

12 Responsibility for co-ordination of police and Security Service activities

In section 2(2) of the [1989 c. 5.] Security Service Act 1989 (which imposes duties on the Director-General of the Security Service), in paragraph (c) (which provides for the Secretary of State to designate the person responsible for co-ordinating police and Security Service activities) for “a person designated by the Secretary of State” there shall be substituted “the Director General of the National Criminal Intelligence Service”.

Service Authority’s officers and employees

13 Officers and employees

(1) The NCIS Service Authority may appoint officers and employees to enable it to discharge its functions.

(2) Persons appointed under this section shall be appointed on such terms and conditions as the NCIS Service Authority considers appropriate.

14 Appointment of clerk

The NCIS Service Authority shall appoint a person to be the clerk to the Authority.

15 Appointment of persons not employed by the NCIS Service Authority

Where the NCIS Service Authority is required or authorised by any Act—

(a) to appoint a person to a specified office under the Authority, or

(b) to designate a person as having specified duties or responsibilities,

then, notwithstanding any provision of that Act to the contrary, the Authority may appoint or designate either a person employed by the Authority under section 13, or a person not holding any office or employment under the Authority.

Financial provisions

16 NCIS service fund

(1) The NCIS Service Authority shall keep a fund to be known as the NCIS service fund.

(2) Subject to any regulations under the [1976 c. 35.] Police Pensions Act 1976 and to section 21 below, all receipts of the Authority shall be paid into the NCIS service fund and all expenditure of the Authority shall be paid out of that fund.

(3) Accounts shall be kept by the Authority of payments made into or out of the NCIS service fund.

17 Power to issue levies

(1) The NCIS Service Authority shall, in respect of every financial year beginning after the establishment of that Authority, issue levies to—

(a) police authorities for areas in England and Wales (other than the metropolitan police district), and

(b) the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District.

(2) The Secretary of State shall, by order, make provision in relation to the calculation, setting, collection, administration and payment of levies under this section.

(3) An order under this section may include provision—

(a) as to apportionment of levies issued under this section;

(b) conferring a right to interest on anything unpaid.

(4) An order under this section may also include provision—

(a) that the Common Council of the City of London making calculations in accordance with section 32 of the [1992 c. 14.] Local Government Finance Act 1992 (originally or by way of substitute) may anticipate a levy;

(b) that a police authority established under section 3 of the Police Act 1996, or the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District, making calculations in accordance with section 43 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (originally or by way of substitute) may anticipate a levy;

(c) as to the treatment as special expenses of amounts so anticipated;

(d) as to the treatment of any levy actually issued.

(5) A statutory instrument containing an order under this section shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(6) Schedule 3 (which makes further provision in connection with levies under this section) shall have effect.

18 Initial financing of NCIS Service Authority

The Secretary of State may make grants to the NCIS Service Authority in respect of expenditure incurred (or to be incurred) by it at any time before the financial year in which revenue is first received by it as a result of levies issued by it under section 17.

19 Charges

(1) The NCIS Service Authority may make charges in respect of the provision of any services, or an agreement for the provision of any services, to any person by the Authority or by NCIS.

(2) Any charges made under this section may include amounts calculated by reference to the expenditure incurred or expected to be incurred by the NCIS Service Authority, or by NCIS, otherwise than directly in connection with the provision of the services concerned.

20 Acceptance of gifts and loans

(1) The NCIS Service Authority may, in connection with the discharge of any of its functions, accept gifts of money, and gifts or loans of other property, on such terms as appear to the Authority to be appropriate.

(2) The terms on which gifts or loans are accepted under subsection (1) may include terms providing for the commercial sponsorship of any activity of the Authority or of NCIS.

21 Pensions and gratuities

(1) The NCIS Service Authority may—

(a) pay, or make payments in respect of, pensions or gratuities to or in respect of any persons who are, or have been, its officers or employees;

(b) provide and maintain schemes (whether contributory or not) for the payment of pensions or gratuities to or in respect of any such persons.

(2) The NCIS Service Authority may—

(a) pay, or make payments in respect of, such pensions or gratuities as it may determine, with the consent of the Secretary of State, to or in respect of any persons who are or have been the Director General of NCIS or police members of NCIS;

(b) provide and maintain such schemes (whether contributory or not) as it may determine, with the consent of the Secretary of State, for the payment of pensions or gratuities to or in respect of any such persons.

(3) Before exercising its powers under subsection (2), the Authority shall have regard to any provision made under the [1976 c. 35.] Police Pensions Act 1976 or section 25(2)(k) of the [1970 c. 9 (N.I.).] Police Act (Northern Ireland) 1970.

(4) References in this section to pensions and gratuities include references to pensions or gratuities by way of compensation to or in respect of any of the persons mentioned in subsection (1) or (2) who suffer loss of office or employment or loss or diminution of emoluments.

General provisions

22 Collaboration agreements

(1) If it appears to the Director General of NCIS and to—

(a) the chief officers of police of one or more police forces in England and Wales, or

(b) the chief constables of one or more police forces in Scotland, or

(c) the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, or

(d) the Director General of the National Crime Squad,

that any police functions can more efficiently or effectively be discharged by members of NCIS and members of their respective forces or, as the case may be, the Squad acting jointly, they may, with the approval of the appropriate authorities, enter into an agreement for that purpose.

(2) For the purposes of this section, the “appropriate authorities” means the NCIS Service Authority and—

(a) in relation to an agreement entered by a chief officer of police of a police force in England and Wales, the police authority which maintains that force,

(b) in relation to an agreement entered by a chief constable of a police force in Scotland, the police authority which maintains that force or, as the case may be, the police authorities for the police areas comprised in a combined area,

(c) in relation to an agreement entered by the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the Police Authority for Northern Ireland, and

(d) in relation to an agreement entered by the Director General of the National Crime Squad, the NCS Service Authority.

(3) In subsection (1) “police functions” includes the functions of NCIS and, in the case of an agreement entered by the Director General of the National Crime Squad, the functions of that Squad.

(4) If it appears to the NCIS Service Authority and to—

(a) one or more police authorities for areas in England and Wales, or

(b) one or more police authorities for areas (or combined areas) in Scotland, or

(c) the Police Authority for Northern Ireland, or

(d) the NCS Service Authority,

that any premises, equipment or other material or facilities can with advantage be provided jointly for NCIS and the forces maintained by the authorities concerned or, as the case may be, the National Crime Squad, they may enter an agreement for that purpose.

(5) Any expenditure incurred under an agreement made under this section shall be borne—

(a) in the case of an agreement under subsection (1), by the appropriate authorities who approved it, and

(b) in the case of an agreement under subsection (4), by the parties to it,

in such proportions as they may agree or as may, in the absence of agreement, be determined by the Secretary of State.

(6) An agreement under subsection (1) or (4) may be varied or determined by a subsequent agreement.

(7) If it appears to the Secretary of State that any party should enter an agreement to which subsection (1), (4) or (6) applies, the Secretary of State may, after considering any representations made by the party concerned, direct the party to enter into such an agreement under those provisions as may be specified in the direction.

(8) The provisions of this section shall not prejudice the power of the NCIS Service Authority, any police authority, the Police Authority for Northern Ireland or the NCS Service Authority to act jointly, or co-operate in any other way, with any person where to do so is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the discharge of any of its functions.

23 Aid by and for NCIS

(1) The Director General of NCIS may, on the application of—

(a) the chief officer of police of a police force in England and Wales,

(b) the chief constable of a police force in Scotland,

(c) the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, or

(d) the Director General of the National Crime Squad,

provide constables or other assistance for the purposes of enabling the police force or the Royal Ulster Constabulary or, as the case may, the National Crime Squad to meet any special demand on its resources.

(2) On the application of the Director General of NCIS—

(a) the chief officer of police of a police force in England and Wales,

(b) the chief constable of a police force in Scotland,

(c) the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, or

(d) the Director General of the National Crime Squad,

may provide constables or other assistance for the purposes of enabling NCIS to meet any special demand on its resources.

(3) If it appears to the Secretary of State—

(a) that it is expedient in the interests of public safety or order that a police force, the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the National Crime Squad or NCIS should be reinforced or should receive other assistance for the purpose of enabling it to meet any special demand on its resources, and

(b) that satisfactory arrangements under subsection (1) or (2) cannot be made, or cannot be made in time,

he may direct the Director General of NCIS, the chief officer of police of any police force in England and Wales, the chief constable of any police force in Scotland, the chief constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary or the Director General of the National Crime Squad to provide such constables or other assistance for that purpose as may be specified in the direction.

(4) While a constable is provided under this section for the assistance of a police force, the Royal Ulster Constabulary or the National Crime Squad he shall, notwithstanding section 10(1), be under the direction and control of the chief officer of that force or, as the case may be, the chief constable of that force or Constabulary or the Director General of that Squad.

(5) While a constable is provided under this section for the assistance of NCIS he shall, notwithstanding section 56(1) below, section 10(1) of the [1996 c. 16.] Police Act 1996, section 17(2) of the [1967 c. 77.] Police (Scotland) Act 1967 or section 6(2) of the [1970 c. 9 (N.I.).] Police Act (Northern Ireland) 1970, be under the direction and control of the Director General of NCIS.

(6) For the purposes of this section “constable”, in relation to Northern Ireland, means a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary or the Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve.

24 Provision of special services

The Director General of NCIS may, at the request of any person, provide services at any premises or in any locality in the United Kingdom, if those services are consistent with the functions of, and do not prejudice the efficiency or effectiveness of, NCIS.

Central supervision and direction

25 General duty of Secretary of State

The Secretary of State shall exercise his powers under this Part in such manner and to such extent as appears to him to be best calculated to promote the efficiency and effectiveness of NCIS.

26 Setting of objectives

(1) The Secretary of State may by order determine objectives for NCIS.

(2) Before making an order under this section, the Secretary of State shall consult—

(a) the NCIS Service Authority,

(b) the Director General of NCIS,

(c) persons whom the Secretary of State considers to represent the interests of the authorities who between them maintain the police forces in Great Britain and the Royal Ulster Constabulary,

(d) persons whom he considers to represent the interests of chief officers of police of police forces in England and Wales, the chief constables of police forces in Scotland and the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary,

(e) the NCS Service Authority,

(f) the Director General of the National Crime Squad, and

(g) the Commissioners of Customs and Excise.

(3) A statutory instrument containing an order under this section shall be laid before Parliament after being made.

27 Setting of performance targets

(1) Where an objective has been determined under section 26, the Secretary of State may direct the NCIS Service Authority to establish levels of performance (“performance targets”) to be aimed at in seeking to achieve the objective.

(2) A direction given under this section may impose conditions with which the performance targets must conform.

(3) The Secretary of State shall arrange for any direction given under this section to be published in such manner as appears to him to be appropriate.

28 Codes of practice

(1) The Secretary of State may issue codes of practice relating to the discharge by the NCIS Service Authority of its functions.

(2) The Secretary of State may from time to time revise the whole or part of any code of practice issued under this section.

(3) The Secretary of State shall lay before Parliament a copy of any code of practice, and of any revision of a code of practice, issued by him under this section.

29 Removal of Director General etc

(1) The Secretary of State may require the NCIS Service Authority to exercise its power under section 7 to call upon the Director General of NCIS, or any other member (other than a member appointed by the Director General by virtue of section 9(8)), to retire in the interests of efficiency or effectiveness.

(2) Before—

(a) exercising any power conferred on him by subsection (1), or

(b) approving the exercise by the NCIS Service Authority of its power under section 7,

the Secretary of State shall give the person in relation to whom it is proposed to exercise the power (the “relevant person”) an opportunity to make representations to him and shall consider any representations so made.

(3) Where representations are made under this section, the Secretary of State may, and in a case where he proposes to exercise a power conferred by subsection (1) shall, appoint one or more persons to hold an inquiry and report to him.

(4) The Secretary of State shall take account of any report made under subsection (3).

(5) The person appointed under subsection (3) (or, in a case where more than one person is so appointed, at least one of the persons so appointed) shall not be an officer of police, of a Government department, of NCIS or of the National Crime Squad.

(6) The costs incurred by a relevant person in respect of an inquiry under this section, taxed in such manner as the Secretary of State may direct, shall be defrayed out of the NCIS service fund.

30 Power to give directions after adverse report

(1) The Secretary of State may at any time—

(a) require the inspectors of constabulary appointed under section 54 of the [1996 c. 16.] Police Act 1996 to carry out an inspection of NCIS under that section,

(b) require the inspectors of constabulary appointed under section 33 of the [1967 c. 77.] Police (Scotland) Act 1967 to carry out an inspection of NCIS under that section, or

(c) require the inspectors of constabulary appointed under section 16 of the [1970 c. 9 (N.I.).] Police Act (Northern Ireland) 1970 to carry out an inspection of NCIS under that section.

(2) Where a report made to the Secretary of State on an inspection carried out in accordance with this section states—

(a) that, in the opinion of the person making the report, NCIS is not efficient or not effective, or

(b) that in his opinion, unless remedial measures are taken, NCIS will cease to be efficient or will cease to be effective,

the Secretary of State may direct the NCIS Service Authority to take such measures as may be specified in the direction.

31 Reports from NCIS Service Authority

(1) The Secretary of State may require the NCIS Service Authority to submit to him a report on such matters connected with the discharge of the Authority’s functions, or otherwise with the activities of NCIS, as may be specified in the requirement.

(2) A report submitted under subsection (1) shall be in such form as the Secretary of State may specify.

(3) The Secretary of State may arrange, or require the Authority to arrange, for a report under this section to be published in such manner as appears to him to be appropriate.

32 Reports from Director General

(1) The Secretary of State may require the Director General of NCIS to submit to him a report on such matters connected with the activities of NCIS as may be specified in the requirement.

(2) A report submitted under subsection (1) shall be in such form as the Secretary of State may specify.

(3) The Secretary of State may arrange, or require the Director General to arrange, for a report under this section to be published in such manner as appears to the Secretary of State to be appropriate.

(4) The Director General shall, as soon as possible after the end of each financial year, submit to the Secretary of State the like report as is required by section 11 to be submitted to the NCIS Service Authority.

33 Criminal statistics

(1) The Director General of NCIS shall, at such times and in such form as the Secretary of State may direct, transmit to the Secretary of State such particulars with respect to offences, offenders, criminal proceedings and the state of crime as the Secretary of State may require.

(2) The Secretary of State shall cause a consolidated and classified abstract of the information transmitted to him under this section to be prepared and laid before Parliament.

34 Inquiries

(1) The Secretary of State may cause an inquiry to be held by a person appointed by him into any matter connected with NCIS.

(2) An inquiry under this section shall be held in public or in private as the Secretary of State may direct.

(3) For the purposes of an inquiry under this section, the person appointed to hold the inquiry may by summons require any person to attend, at a time and place stated in the summons, to give evidence or to produce any documents in his custody or under his control which relate to any matter in question at the inquiry, and may take evidence on oath, and for that purpose administer oaths.

(4) No person shall be required, in obedience to a summons under subsection (3), to attend to give evidence or to produce any documents, unless the necessary expenses of his attendance are paid or tendered to him.

(5) Nothing in subsection (3) shall empower a person holding an inquiry to require the production of the title, or of any instrument relating to the title, of any land not being the property of the NCIS Service Authority.

(6) Every person who refuses or deliberately fails to attend in obedience to a summons issued under this section, or to give evidence, or who deliberately alters, suppresses, conceals, destroys, or refuses to produce any book or other document which he is required or is liable to be required to produce for the purposes of this section, shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to both.

(7) Where the report of the person holding an inquiry under this section is not published, a summary of his findings and conclusions shall be made known by the Secretary of State so far as appears to him consistent with the public interest.

(8) The Secretary of State may direct that the whole or part of the costs (or, in relation to any inquiry held in Scotland, the expenses) incurred by any person for the purposes of an inquiry held under this section shall be defrayed out of the NCIS service fund; and any costs (or expenses) payable under this section shall be subject to taxation in such manner as the Secretary of State may direct.

35 Regulations as to standard of equipment

The Secretary of State may make regulations requiring equipment provided or used for the purposes of NCIS to satisfy such requirements as to design and performance as may be prescribed in the regulations.

36 Common services

(1) The Secretary of State may, by regulations, make provision for requiring NCIS and—

(a) all police forces in England and Wales, or

(b) all police forces in Scotland, or

(c) the Royal Ulster Constabulary, or

(d) the National Crime Squad,

to use specified facilities or services, or facilities or services of a specified description, (whether or not provided under section 57(1) of the [1996 c. 16.] Police Act 1996 or section 36 of the [1967 c. 77.] Police (Scotland) Act 1967) if he considers that it would be in the interests of efficiency or effectiveness for them to do so.

(2) Before making regulations under this section the Secretary of State shall consult the NCIS Service Authority and the Director General of NCIS and—

(a) where the regulations relate to police forces in England and Wales, persons whom the Secretary of State considers to represent the interests of police authorities for areas in England and Wales and persons whom he considers to represent the interests of chief officers of police of police forces there,

(b) where the regulations relate to police forces in Scotland, persons whom the Secretary of State considers to represent the interests of police authorities for areas in Scotland and persons whom he considers to represent the interests of chief constables of police forces there,

(c) where the regulations relate to the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the Police Authority for Northern Ireland and the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, and

(d) where the regulations relate to the National Crime Squad, the NCS Service Authority and the Director General of the National Crime Squad.

Discipline and complaints

37 Discipline regulations

(1) The Secretary of State may make regulations relating to the conduct of members of NCIS and the maintenance of discipline in NCIS.

(2) In relation to any matter as to which provision may be made by regulations under this section, the regulations may—

(a) authorise or require provision to be made by, or confer discretionary powers on, the NCIS Service Authority, the Director General of NCIS or other persons, or

(b) authorise or require the delegation by any person of functions conferred on that person by or under the regulations.

(3) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

38 Appeals

(1) Where the Director General of NCIS, or a police member to whom section 9(2)(a) applies, is dismissed or required to resign by a decision taken under or by virtue of regulations made under section 37, he may appeal to an appeals tribunal against the decision except where he has a right of appeal to some other person; and in that case he may appeal to an appeals tribunal from any decision of that other person as a result of which he is dismissed or required to resign.

(2) The Secretary of State shall, by order, make provision in relation to appeals tribunals and appeals under subsection (1) corresponding (with or without modification) to that which is or may be made in relation to police appeals tribunals and appeals under section 85(1) of the [1996 c. 16.] Police Act 1996 by, or by virtue of, section 85(2) to (4) of and Schedule 6 to that Act.

(3) A statutory instrument containing an order under this section shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

39 Complaints

(1) The Secretary of State shall, by regulations, make provision for the handling of any complaint about the conduct of any member of NCIS which is submitted by, or on behalf of, a member of the public.

(2) Regulations under subsection (1) shall, so far as the Secretary of State thinks it desirable, make provision—

(a) for the procedures for the handling of complaints relating to anything done or omitted to be done by a person in Scotland to be procedures corresponding or similar to those established by or by virtue of sections 40 and 40A of the [1967 c. 77.] Police (Scotland) Act 1967;

(b) for the procedures for the handling of complaints relating to anything done or omitted to be done by a person in Northern Ireland to be procedures corresponding or similar to those established by or by virtue of the [S.I. 1995/2993 (N.I.17).] Police (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1995, and for that purpose the regulations may confer additional functions on the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland;

(c) for the procedures for the handling of any other complaint to be procedures corresponding or similar to those established by or by virtue of Chapter I of Part IV of the [1996 c. 16.] Police Act 1996 (police complaints), and for that purpose the regulations may confer additional functions on the Police Complaints Authority.

(3) The Secretary of State may issue guidance to persons on whom functions are conferred by regulations under this section concerning the performance of their functions under those regulations, and they shall have regard to any such guidance in the performance of those functions.

(4) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

40 Information as to the manner of dealing with complaints etc

The NCIS Service Authority in carrying out its duty under section 3(1), and inspectors of constabulary appointed under section 54 of the Police Act 1996, section 33 of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967 or section 16 of the [1970 c. 9 (N.I.).] Police Act (Northern Ireland) 1970 in carrying out their duties with respect to the efficiency and effectiveness of NCIS, shall keep themselves informed as to the operation of procedures established under section 39.

Miscellaneous

41 Arrangements for consultation

(1) The NCIS Service Authority shall, after consulting the Director General of NCIS, make arrangements for obtaining the views of—

(a) the authorities who between them maintain the police forces in Great Britain and the Royal Ulster Constabulary,

(b) the NCS Service Authority,

(c) the Commissioners of Customs and Excise, and

(d) such other persons or bodies as the NCIS Service Authority considers appropriate,

about the Authority and NCIS.

(2) The Director General of NCIS shall, after consulting the Authority, make arrangements for obtaining the views of—

(a) the chief officers of police of police forces in England and Wales,

(b) the chief constables of police forces in Scotland,

(c) the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary,

(d) the Director General of the National Crime Squad,

(e) the Commissioners of Customs and Excise, and

(f) such other persons or bodies as the Director General of NCIS considers appropriate,

about NCIS.

(3) Arrangements made under subsection (1) or (2) shall be reviewed from time to time.

(4) If it appears to the Secretary of State that arrangements made for consultation by the NCIS Service Authority or the Director General under this section are not adequate for the purposes set out in subsection (1) or (2), he may require the Authority or Director General whose duty it is to make the arrangements to submit a report to him concerning the arrangements.

(5) After considering a report submitted under subsection (4), the Secretary of State may require the Authority or Director General who submitted it to review the arrangements and submit a further report to him concerning them.

(6) The Authority or Director General shall be under the same duties to consult when reviewing arrangements as when making them.

42 Liability for wrongful acts of constables etc

(1) The Director General of NCIS shall be liable in respect of torts committed by constables under his direction and control in the performance or purported performance of their functions in like manner as a master is liable in respect of torts committed by his servants in the course of their employment, and accordingly shall in respect of any such tort be treated for all purposes as a joint tortfeasor.

(2) There shall be paid out of the NCIS service fund—

(a) any damages or costs awarded against the Director General in any proceedings brought against him by virtue of this section and any costs incurred by him in any such proceedings so far as not recovered by him in the proceedings, and

(b) any sum required in connection with the settlement of any claim made against the Director General by virtue of this section, if the settlement is approved by the NCIS Service Authority.

(3) Any proceedings in respect of a claim made by virtue of this section shall be brought against the Director General of NCIS for the time being or, in the case of a vacancy in that office, against the person for the time being performing the functions of the Director General; and references in this section to the Director General shall be construed accordingly.

(4) The NCIS Service Authority may, in such cases and to such extent as appear to it to be appropriate, pay out of the NCIS service fund—

(a) any damages or costs awarded against a person to whom this subsection applies in proceedings for a tort committed by that person,

(b) any costs incurred and not recovered by such a person in such proceedings, and

(c) any sum required in connection with the settlement of a claim that has or might have given rise to such proceedings.

(5) Subsection (4) applies to a person who is—

(a) a member of NCIS, or

(b) a constable for the time being required to serve with NCIS by virtue of section 23.

(6) In relation to Scotland—

(a) subsection (1) shall not apply but—

(i) the Director General of NCIS shall be liable in reparation in respect of any wrongful act or omission on the part of any constable under his direction and control in the performance or purported performance of his functions in the like manner as a master is so liable in respect of any wrongful act or omission on the part of his servant in the course of the servant’s employment, and

(ii) subsection (4)(a) shall apply as if the reference to proceedings for a tort committed by a person were a reference to proceedings for a wrongful act or omission on the part of that person, and

(b) any reference in subsection (2) or (4) to costs shall be construed as a reference to expenses.

43 Causing disaffection

Any person who causes, or attempts to cause, or does any act calculated to cause, disaffection amongst the members of NCIS within section 9(1)(a) or (b), or induces or attempts to induce, or does any act calculated to induce, any such member to withhold his services, shall be guilty of an offence and liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both;

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine, or to both.

44 Orders governing NCIS Service Authority

(1) The Secretary of State may by order make provision (including provision as regards Scotland and Northern Ireland) in relation to the NCIS Service Authority about matters of the kind dealt with in the enactments listed in Schedule 4 (which lists enactments which make provision about police authorities established under section 3 of the [1996 c. 16.] Police Act 1996).

(2) A statutory instrument containing an order under this section shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

General

45 Orders and regulations

Any power of the Secretary of State to make orders or regulations under this Part shall be exercisable by statutory instrument.

46 Interpretation of Part I

In this Part—

• “financial year” means the twelve months ending with 31st March;

• “NCIS” has the meaning given in section 2;

• “NCIS Service Authority” has the meaning given in section 1(1);

• “NCIS service fund” means the fund established under section 16;

• “NCS Service Authority” means the Service Authority for the National Crime Squad.

Part II The National Crime Squad

The Service Authority

47 The Service Authority for the National Crime Squad

(1) There shall be a body corporate to be known as the Service Authority for the National Crime Squad (in this Part referred to as “the NCS Service Authority”).

(2) Subject to the following provisions of this section, the NCS Service Authority shall consist of seventeen members.

(3) The Secretary of State may by order provide that the number of its members shall be a specified odd number greater than seventeen.

(4) Before making an order under subsection (3), the Secretary of State shall consult—

(a) the NCS Service Authority (if it is then in existence),

(b) persons whom he considers to represent the interests of police authorities for areas in England and Wales, and

(c) persons whom he considers to represent the interests of chief officers of police of police forces in England and Wales.

(5) A statutory instrument containing an order under subsection (3) shall be laid before Parliament after being made.

(6) The NCS Service Authority may co-opt such additional members as it thinks fit.

(7) Parts I, III and IV of Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 shall have effect in relation to the NCS Service Authority.

Functions

48 General functions of the NCS Service Authority and the National Crime Squad

(1) The NCS Service Authority shall maintain a body to be known as the National Crime Squad.

(2) The function of the National Crime Squad shall be to prevent and detect serious crime which is of relevance to more than one police area in England and Wales.

(3) The National Crime Squad may also—

(a) at the request of a chief officer of police of a police force in England and Wales, act in support of the activities of his force in the prevention and detection of serious crime;

(b) at the request of the Director General of NCIS, act in support of the activities of NCIS;

(c) institute criminal proceedings;

(d) co-operate with other police forces in the United Kingdom in the prevention and detection of serious crime;

(e) act in support of other law enforcement agencies in the prevention and detection of serious crime.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (3), “law enforcement agency” includes—

(a) any government department,

(b) the States of Jersey Police Force, the salaried police force of the Island of Guernsey and the Isle of Man Constabulary,

(c) any other person charged with the duty of investigating offences or charging offenders, and

(d) any other person engaged outside the United Kingdom in the carrying on of activities similar to any carried on by the NCS Service Authority, the National Crime Squad, a police authority, a police force, the NCIS Service Authority or NCIS.

(5) In discharging its functions, the NCS Service Authority shall have regard to—

(a) any objectives determined by the Secretary of State under section 71,

(b) any objectives determined by the Authority under section 49,

(c) any performance targets established by the Authority, whether in compliance with a direction under section 72 or otherwise, and

(d) any service plan issued by the Authority under section 50.

(6) In discharging any function to which a code of practice issued under section 73 relates, the NCS Service Authority shall have regard to the code.

(7) The NCS Service Authority shall comply with any direction given to it by the Secretary of State under section 72 or 75 or under Schedule 5.

49 Objectives

(1) The NCS Service Authority shall secure that the National Crime Squad is efficient and effective.

(2) The NCS Service Authority shall, before the beginning of each financial year, determine objectives for that year for the National Crime Squad.

(3) Objectives determined under this section may relate to matters to which objectives determined under section 71 also relate, or to other matters, but in any event shall be so framed as to be consistent with the objectives determined under that section.

(4) Before determining objectives under this section, the NCS Service Authority shall consult—

(a) the Director General of the National Crime Squad,

(b) the NCIS Service Authority, and

(c) persons whom it considers to represent the interests of police authorities for areas in England and Wales.

50 Service plans

(1) The NCS Service Authority shall, before the beginning of each financial year, issue a plan setting out the proposed arrangements for the carrying out by the National Crime Squad of its functions during the year (“the service plan”).

(2) The service plan shall include a statement of the Authority’s priorities for the year, of the financial resources expected to be available and of the proposed allocation of those resources, and shall give particulars of—

(a) any objectives determined by the Secretary of State under section 71,

(b) any objectives determined by the Authority under section 49, and

(c) any performance targets established by the Authority, whether in compliance with a direction under section 72 or otherwise.

(3) A draft of the service plan shall be prepared by the Director General of the National Crime Squad and submitted by him to the Authority for it to consider.

(4) Before issuing a service plan which differs from the draft submitted by the Director General under subsection (3), the Authority shall consult the Director General.

(5) The Authority shall arrange for every service plan issued by it under this section to be published in such manner as appears to it to be appropriate, and shall send a copy of the plan to—

(a) the Secretary of State,

(b) each police authority for an area in England and Wales,

(c) the chief officer of police of each police force in England and Wales,

(d) the NCIS Service Authority, and

(e) the Director General of NCIS.

51 Annual reports

(1) The NCS Service Authority shall, as soon as possible after the end of each financial year, issue a report on the carrying out of its functions during that year.

(2) A report issued under this section for any year shall include an assessment of the extent to which the service plan for that year issued under section 50 has been carried out.

(3) The NCS Service Authority shall arrange for every report issued by it under this section to be published in such manner as appears to it to be appropriate, and shall send a copy of the report to—

(a) the Secretary of State,

(b) each police authority for an area in England and Wales,

(c) the chief officer of police of each police force in England and Wales,

(d) the NCIS Service Authority, and

(e) the Director General of NCIS.

Director General and other members

52 Appointment of Director General

(1) The National Crime Squad shall have a Director General appointed by the NCS Service Authority on such terms and conditions as the Authority considers appropriate.

(2) The Director General shall be chosen by a panel of members of the Authority from a list of persons eligible for appointment which has been prepared by that panel and approved by the Secretary of State.

(3) A person is eligible for appointment as Director General for the purposes of subsection (2) if—

(a) he holds the rank of chief constable in a police force in Great Britain or in the Royal Ulster Constabulary,

(b) he is the Commissioner, an Assistant Commissioner or a Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis,

(c) he is the Commissioner of Police for the City of London, or

(d) he is, in accordance with regulations under section 50 of the [1996 c. 16.] Police Act 1996, section 26 of the [1967 c. 77.] Police (Scotland) Act 1967 or section 25 of the [1970 c. 9(N.I.).] Police Act (Northern Ireland) 1970, a constable eligible for appointment to any of the ranks or posts mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c).

(4) The panel mentioned in subsection (2) shall be convened by the chairman of the NCS Authority and shall consist only of members of that Authority appointed—

(a) by the Secretary of State (other than under paragraph 6 of Schedule 1), or

(b) by local authority members of police authorities for areas in England and Wales (as defined in paragraph 14 of that Schedule).

(5) The Director General shall, on appointment, be attested as a constable by making a declaration in the form set out in Schedule 4 to the Police Act 1996 before a justice of the peace appointed for an area in England and Wales.

(6) Without prejudice to any other enactment conferring powers on constables for particular purposes, the Director General shall have all the powers and privileges of a constable throughout England and Wales and the adjacent United Kingdom waters.

(7) The Director General shall hold the rank of chief constable.

(8) In subsection (6)—

• “powers” includes powers under any enactment, whenever passed or made;

• “United Kingdom waters” means the sea and other waters within the seaward limits of the territorial sea;

and that subsection, so far as it relates to powers under any enactment, makes them exercisable throughout the United Kingdom waters whether or not the enactment applies to those waters apart from this provision.

53 Removal of Director General by the Authority

(1) Without prejudice to section 66 or to any regulations under section 81 or under the [1976 c. 35.] Police Pensions Act 1976, the NCS Service Authority, acting with the approval of the Secretary of State, may call upon the Director General of the National Crime Squad to retire in the interests of efficiency or effectiveness.

(2) Before seeking the approval of the Secretary of State for the purposes of subsection (1), the Authority shall give the Director General an opportunity to make representations and shall consider any representations that he makes.

(3) A Director General who is called upon to retire under subsection (1) shall retire on such date as the Authority may specify or on such earlier date as may be agreed upon between him and the Authority.

54 Deputy Director General

(1) The Director General of the National Crime Squad shall designate a police member of the National Crime Squad to whom section 55(2)(a) applies to exercise all the powers and duties of the Director General—

(a) during any absence, incapacity or suspension from duty of the Director General, or

(b) during any vacancy in the office of Director General.

(2) The Director General shall consult the NCS Service Authority before designating a member under subsection (1).

(3) No more than one person shall be authorised to act by virtue of a designation under subsection (1) at any one time; and a person so authorised shall not have power to act by virtue of that subsection for a continuous period exceeding three months except with the consent of the Secretary of State.

55 Members of the National Crime Squad

(1) The National Crime Squad shall consist of—

(a) the Director General appointed under section 52,

(b) persons appointed by the NCS Service Authority under this paragraph as police members of the National Crime Squad, and

(c) other persons appointed by the NCS Service Authority under this paragraph to be members of the National Crime Squad as employees of the Authority.

(2) A person shall be appointed as a police member of the National Crime Squad only if—

(a) he is appointed to the rank of assistant chief constable in the National Crime Squad and he met the requirements of subsection (3) immediately prior to his being appointed, or

(b) he is engaged with the National Crime Squad on a period of temporary service to which section 97 of the [1996 c. 16.] Police Act 1996 applies.

(3) A person meets the requirements of this subsection if—

(a) he holds the rank of assistant chief constable or a higher rank in a police force in Great Britain or in the Royal Ulster Constabulary,

(b) he holds the rank of commander or a higher rank in the metropolitan police force or in the City of London police force, or

(c) he is, in accordance with regulations under section 50 of the [1996 c. 16.] Police Act 1996, section 26 of the [1967 c. 77.] Police (Scotland) Act 1967 or section 25 of the [1970 c. 9 (N.I.).] Police Act (Northern Ireland) 1970, a constable eligible for appointment to the rank of assistant chief constable or commander in any of the police forces, or in the Constabulary, mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b).

(4) Subsections (5), (6) and (8) of section 52 apply to a police member to whom subsection (2)(a) above applies as they apply to the Director General of the National Crime Squad.

(5) A person appointed under subsection (1)(b) or (c) shall be appointed on such terms and conditions as the NCS Service Authority considers appropriate.

(6) Before making an appointment under subsection (1)(b) or (c), or determining the terms and conditions on which such an appointment is to be made, the NCS Service Authority shall consult the Director General of the National Crime Squad.

(7) A police member to whom subsection (2)(b) applies shall cease to be a member of the National Crime Squad at the end of his period of temporary service (unless re-appointed under this section).

(8) The NCS Service Authority shall exercise its powers under section 101 (and section 107) of the [1972 c. 70.] Local Government Act 1972 so as to secure that, subject to subsection (9) below, the Director General of the National Crime Squad appoints persons under subsection (1)(b) or (c) to be members of the National Crime Squad.

(9) Subsection (8) shall not apply to—

(a) the appointment of any person to whom subsection (2)(a) applies as a police member, or

(b) the appointment of such other persons as may be agreed between the Director General and the Authority or, in the absence of agreement, as may be determined by the Secretary of State.

(10) Section 53 applies to a member appointed under this section, other than a member appointed by the Director General by virtue of subsection (8), as it applies to the Director General.

Functions of Director General

56 General function of Director General

(1) The National Crime Squad shall be under the direction and control of the Director General.

(2) In discharging his functions, the Director General shall have regard to the service plan issued by the NCS Service Authority under section 50.

57 Reports by Director General to the Authority

(1) The Director General of the National Crime Squad shall, as soon as possible after the end of each financial year, submit to the NCS Service Authority a general report on the activities of the Squad during that year.

(2) The Director General shall arrange for a report submitted by him under subsection (1) to be published in such manner as appears to him to be appropriate.

(3) The NCS Service Authority may require the Director General to submit to it a report on such matters connected with the activities of the National Crime Squad as may be specified in the requirement.

(4) A report submitted under subsection (3) shall be in such form as the Authority may specify.

(5) If it appears to the Director General that a report in compliance with subsection (3) would contain information which in the public interest ought not to be disclosed, or is not needed for the discharge of the functions of the Authority, he may request the Authority to refer the requirement to the Secretary of State; and in any such case the requirement shall be of no effect unless it is confirmed by the Secretary of State.

(6) The Authority may arrange, or require the Director General to arrange, for a report submitted under subsection (3) to be published in such manner as appears to the Authority to be appropriate.

Service Authority’s officers and employees

58 Officers and employees

(1) The NCS Service Authority may appoint officers and employees to enable the Authority to discharge its functions.

(2) Persons appointed under this section shall be appointed on such terms and conditions as the NCS Service Authority considers appropriate.

59 Appointment of clerk

The NCS Service Authority shall appoint a person to be the clerk to the Authority.

60 Appointment of persons not employed by the NCS Service Authority

Where the NCS Service Authority is required or authorised by any Act—

(a) to appoint a person to a specified office under the Authority, or

(b) to designate a person as having specified duties or responsibilities,

then, notwithstanding any provision of that Act to the contrary, the Authority may appoint or designate either a person employed by the Authority under section 58, or a person not holding any office or employment under the Authority.

Financial provisions

61 NCS service fund

(1) The NCS Service Authority shall keep a fund to be known as the NCS service fund.

(2) Subject to any regulations under the [1976 c. 35.] Police Pensions Act 1976 and to section 66 below, all receipts of the Authority shall be paid into the NCS service fund and all expenditure of the Authority shall be paid out of that fund.

(3) Accounts shall be kept by the Authority of payments made into or out of the NCS service fund.

62 Power to issue levies

(1) The NCS Service Authority shall, in respect of every financial year beginning after the establishment of that Authority, issue levies to—

(a) police authorities for areas in England and Wales (other than the metropolitan police district), and

(b) the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District.

(2) The Secretary of State shall, by order, make provision in relation to the calculation, setting, collection, administration and payment of levies under this section.

(3) An order under this section may include provision—

(a) as to apportionment of levies issued under this section;

(b) conferring a right to interest on anything unpaid.

(4) An order under this section may also include provision—

(a) that the Common Council of the City of London making calculations in accordance with section 32 of the [1992 c. 14.] Local Government Finance Act 1992 (originally or by way of substitute) may anticipate a levy;

(b) that a police authority established under section 3 of the [1996 c. 16.] Police Act 1996, or the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District, making calculations in accordance with section 43 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (originally or by way of substitute) may anticipate a levy;

(c) as to the treatment as special expenses of amounts so anticipated;

(d) as to the treatment of any levy actually issued.

(5) A statutory instrument containing an order under this section shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(6) Schedule 5 (which makes further provision in connection with levies under this section) shall have effect.

63 Initial financing of NCS Service Authority

The Secretary of State may make grants to the NCS Service Authority in respect of expenditure incurred (or to be incurred) by it at any time before the financial year in which revenue is first received by it as a result of levies issued by it under section 62.

64 Charges

(1) The NCS Service Authority may make charges in respect of the provision of any services, or an agreement for the provision of any services, to any person by the Authority or by the National Crime Squad.

(2) Any charges made under this section may include amounts calculated by reference to the expenditure incurred or expected to be incurred by the NCS Service Authority, or by the National Crime Squad, otherwise than directly in connection with the provision of the services concerned.

65 Acceptance of gifts and loans

(1) The NCS Service Authority may, in connection with the discharge of any of its functions, accept gifts of money, and gifts or loans of other property, on such terms as appear to the Authority to be appropriate.

(2) The terms on which gifts or loans are accepted under subsection (1) may include terms providing for the commercial sponsorship of any activity of the Authority or of the National Crime Squad.

66 Pensions and gratuities

(1) The NCS Service Authority may—

(a) pay, or make payments in respect of, pensions or gratuities to or in respect of any persons who are, or have been, its officers or employees;

(b) provide and maintain schemes (whether contributory or not) for the payment of pensions or gratuities to or in respect of any such persons.

(2) The NCS Service Authority may—

(a) pay, or make payments in respect of, such pensions or gratuities as it may determine, with the consent of the Secretary of State, to or in respect of any persons who are or have been the Director General of the National Crime Squad or police members of the Squad;

(b) provide and maintain such schemes (whether contributory or not) as it may determine, with the consent of the Secretary of State, for the payment of pensions or gratuities to or in respect of any such persons.

(3) Before exercising its powers under subsection (2), the Authority shall have regard to any provision made under the [1976 c. 35.] Police Pensions Act 1976 or section 25(2)(k) of the [1970 c. 9 (N.I.).] Police Act (Northern Ireland) 1970.

(4) References in this section to pensions and gratuities include references to pensions or gratuities by way of compensation to or in respect of any of the persons mentioned in subsection (1) or (2) who suffer loss of office or employment or loss or diminution of emoluments.

67 Revenue accounts and capital finance

In section 39 of the [1989 c. 42.] Local Government and Housing Act 1989, in subsection (1) (authorities to which provisions about revenue accounts and capital finance apply), after paragraph (j) there shall be inserted—

“(ja) the Service Authority for the National Crime Squad;”.

68 Financial administration

In section 111 of the [1988 c. 41.] Local Government Finance Act 1988, in subsection (2) (definition of “relevant authority” for the purposes of provisions regulating financial administration), after paragraph (e) there shall be inserted—

“(ea) the Service Authority for the National Crime Squad;”.

Special services

69 Provision of special services

The Director General of the National Crime Squad may, at the request of any person, provide services at any premises or in any locality in England and Wales, if those services are consistent with the functions of, and do not prejudice the efficiency or effectiveness of, the Squad.

Central supervision and direction

70 General duty of Secretary of State

The Secretary of State shall exercise his powers under this Part in such manner and to such extent as appears to him to be best calculated to promote the efficiency and effectiveness of the National Crime Squad.

71 Setting of objectives

(1) The Secretary of State may by order determine objectives for the National Crime Squad.

(2) Before making an order under this section, the Secretary of State shall consult—

(a) the NCS Service Authority,

(b) the Director General of the National Crime Squad,

(c) persons whom the Secretary of State considers to represent the interests of police authorities for areas in England and Wales,

(d) persons whom he considers to represent the interests of chief officers of police of police forces in England and Wales,

(e) the NCIS Service Authority, and

(f) the Director General of NCIS.

(3) A statutory instrument containing an order under this section shall be laid before Parliament after being made.

72 Setting of performance targets

(1) Where an objective has been determined under section 71, the Secretary of State may direct the NCS Service Authority to establish levels of performance (“performance targets”) to be aimed at in seeking to achieve the objective.

(2) A direction given under this section may impose conditions with which the performance targets must conform.

(3) The Secretary of State shall arrange for any direction given under this section to be published in such manner as appears to him to be appropriate.

73 Codes of practice

(1) The Secretary of State may issue codes of practice relating to the discharge by the NCS Service Authority of its functions.

(2) The Secretary of State may from time to time revise the whole or part of any code of practice issued under this section.

(3) The Secretary of State shall lay before Parliament a copy of any code of practice, and of any revision of a code of practice, issued by him under this section.

74 Removal of Director General etc

(1) The Secretary of State may require the NCS Service Authority to exercise its power under section 53 to call upon the Director General of the National Crime Squad, or any other member (other than a member appointed by the Director General by virtue of section 55(8)) to retire in the interests of efficiency or effectiveness.

(2) Before—

(a) exercising any power conferred on him by subsection (1), or

(b) approving the exercise by the NCS Service Authority of its power under section 53,

the Secretary of State shall give the person in relation to whom it is proposed to exercise the power (the “relevant person”) an opportunity to make representations to him and shall consider any representations so made.

(3) Where representations are made under this section the Secretary of State may, and in a case where he proposes to exercise a power conferred by subsection (1) shall, appoint one or more persons to hold an inquiry and report to him.

(4) The Secretary of State shall take account of any report made under subsection (3).

(5) The person appointed under subsection (3) (or, in a case where more than one person is so appointed, at least one of the persons so appointed) shall not be an officer of police, of a Government department, of the National Crime Squad or of NCIS.

(6) The costs incurred by a relevant person in respect of an inquiry under this section, taxed in such manner as the Secretary of State may direct, shall be defrayed out of the NCS service fund.

75 Power to give directions after adverse report

(1) The Secretary of State may at any time require the inspectors of constabulary to carry out an inspection of the National Crime Squad under section 54 of the [1996 c. 16.] Police Act 1996.

(2) Where a report made to the Secretary of State on an inspection carried out in accordance with this section states—

(a) that, in the opinion of the person making the report, the National Crime Squad is not efficient or not effective, or

(b) that in his opinion, unless remedial measures are taken, the National Crime Squad will cease to be efficient or will cease to be effective,

the Secretary of State may direct the NCS Service Authority to take such measures as may be specified in the direction.

76 Reports from NCS Service Authority

(1) The Secretary of State may require the NCS Service Authority to submit to him a report on such matters connected with the discharge of the Authority’s functions, or otherwise with the activities of the National Crime Squad, as may be specified in the requirement.

(2) A report submitted under subsection (1) shall be in such form as the Secretary of State may specify.

(3) The Secretary of State may arrange, or require the Authority to arrange, for a report under this section to be published in such manner as appears to him to be appropriate.

77 Reports from Director General

(1) The Secretary of State may require the Director General of the National Crime Squad to submit to him a report on such matters connected with the activities of the National Crime Squad as may be specified in the requirement.

(2) A report submitted under subsection (1) shall be in such form as the Secretary of State may specify.

(3) The Secretary of State may arrange, or require the Director General to arrange, for a report under this section to be published in such manner as appears to the Secretary of State to be appropriate.

(4) The Director General shall, as soon as possible after the end of each financial year, submit to the Secretary of State the like report as is required by section 57 to be submitted to the NCS Service Authority.

78 Criminal statistics

(1) The Director General of the National Crime Squad shall, at such times and in such form as the Secretary of State may direct, transmit to the Secretary of State such particulars with respect to offences, offenders, criminal proceedings and the state of crime as the Secretary of State may require.

(2) The Secretary of State shall cause a consolidated and classified abstract of the information transmitted to him under this section to be included in the abstract laid before Parliament under section 45 of the [1996 c. 16.] Police Act 1996.

79 Inquiries

(1) The Secretary of State may cause an inquiry to be held by a person appointed by him into any matter connected with the National Crime Squad.

(2) An inquiry under this section shall be held in public or in private as the Secretary of State may direct.

(3) Subsections (2) and (3) of section 250 of the [1972 c. 70.] Local Government Act 1972 (power to summon and examine witnesses) shall apply to an inquiry held under this section as they apply to an inquiry held under that section.

(4) Where the report of the person holding an inquiry under this section is not published, a summary of his findings and conclusions shall be made known by the Secretary of State so far as appears to him consistent with the public interest.

(5) The Secretary of State may direct that the whole or part of the costs incurred by any person for the purposes of an inquiry held under this section shall be defrayed out of the NCS service fund; and any costs payable under this section shall be subject to taxation in such manner as the Secretary of State may direct.

80 Regulations as to standard of equipment

The Secretary of State may make regulations requiring equipment provided or used for the purposes of the National Crime Squad to satisfy such requirements as to design and performance as may be prescribed in the regulations.

Discipline and complaints

81 Discipline regulations

(1) The Secretary of State may make regulations as to the conduct of members of the National Crime Squad and the maintenance of discipline in that Squad.

(2) In relation to any matter as to which provision may be made by regulations under this section, the regulations may—

(a) authorise or require provision to be made by, or confer discretionary powers on, the NCS Service Authority, the Director General of the National Crime Squad or other persons, or

(b) authorise or require the delegation by any person of functions conferred on that person by or under the regulations.

(3) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

82 Appeals

(1) Where the Director General of the National Crime Squad, or a police member to whom section 55(2)(a) applies, is dismissed or required to resign by a decision taken under or by virtue of regulations made under section 81, he may appeal to an appeals tribunal against the decision except where he has a right of appeal to some other person; and in that case he may appeal to an appeals tribunal from any decision of that other person as a result of which he is dismissed or required to resign.

(2) Section 85(2) to (5) of, and Schedule 6 to, the [1996 c. 16.] Police Act 1996 (police appeals tribunals) shall apply, subject to such modifications as the Secretary of State may by order prescribe, in relation to an appeals tribunal and an appeal under subsection (1) above as they apply in relation to a police appeals tribunal and an appeal under section 85(1) of that Act.

(3) A statutory instrument containing an order under this section shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

83 Complaints

(1) The Secretary of State shall, by regulations, make provision for the handling of any complaint about the conduct of any member of the National Crime Squad which is submitted by, or on behalf of, a member of the public.

(2) The procedures established by virtue of subsection (1) shall, so far as the Secretary of State thinks it desirable, be procedures corresponding or similar to those established by or by virtue of Chapter I of Part IV of the Police Act 1996 (police complaints), and for that purpose regulations may confer additional functions on the Police Complaints Authority.

(3) The Secretary of State may issue guidance to persons on whom functions are conferred by regulations under this section concerning the performance of their functions under those regulations, and they shall have regard to any such guidance in the performance of those functions.

(4) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

84 Information as to the manner of dealing with complaints etc

The NCS Service Authority in carrying out its duty under section 49(1), and the inspectors of constabulary in carrying out their duties with respect to the efficiency and effectiveness of the National Crime Squad, shall keep themselves informed as to the operation of procedures established under section 83.

Miscellaneous

85 Arrangements for consultation

(1) The NCS Service Authority shall, after consulting the Director General of the National Crime Squad, make arrangements for obtaining the views of—

(a) police authorities for areas in England and Wales,

(b) the NCIS Service Authority, and

(c) such other persons or bodies as the NCS Service Authority considers appropriate,

about the Authority and the National Crime Squad.

(2) The Director General of the National Crime Squad shall, after consulting the Authority, make arrangements for obtaining the views of—

(a) the chief officers of police of police forces in England and Wales,

(b) the Director General of NCIS, and

(c) such other persons or bodies as the Director General of the National Crime Squad considers appropriate,

about the National Crime Squad.

(3) Arrangements made under subsection (1) or (2) shall be reviewed from time to time.

(4) If it appears to the Secretary of State that arrangements made for consultation by the NCS Service Authority or the Director General under this section are not adequate for the purposes set out in subsection (1) or (2), he may require the Authority or Director General whose duty it is to make the arrangements to submit a report to him concerning the arrangements.

(5) After considering a report submitted under subsection (4), the Secretary of State may require the Authority or Director General who submitted it to review the arrangements and submit a further report to him concerning them.

(6) The Authority or Director General shall be under the same duties to consult when reviewing arrangements as when making them.

86 Liability for wrongful acts of constables etc

(1) The Director General of the National Crime Squad shall be liable in respect of torts committed by constables under his direction and control in the performance or purported performance of their functions in like manner as a master is liable in respect of torts committed by his servants in the course of their employment, and accordingly shall in respect of any such tort be treated for all purposes as a joint tortfeasor.

(2) There shall be paid out of the NCS service fund—

(a) any damages or costs awarded against the Director General in any proceedings brought against him by virtue of this section and any costs incurred by him in any such proceedings so far as not recovered by him in the proceedings, and

(b) any sum required in connection with the settlement of any claim made against the Director General by virtue of this section, if the settlement is approved by the NCS Service Authority.

(3) Any proceedings in respect of a claim made by virtue of this section shall be brought against the Director General of the National Crime Squad for the time being or, in the case of a vacancy in that office, against the person for the time being performing the functions of the Director General; and references in subsections (1) and (2) to the Director General shall be construed accordingly.

(4) The NCS Service Authority may, in such cases and to such extent as appear to it to be appropriate, pay out of the NCS service fund—

(a) any damages or costs awarded against a person to whom this subsection applies in proceedings for a tort committed by that person,

(b) any costs incurred and not recovered by such a person in such proceedings, and

(c) any sum required in connection with the settlement of a claim that has or might have given rise to such proceedings.

(5) Subsection (4) applies to a person who is—

(a) a member of the National Crime Squad, or

(b) a constable for the time being required to serve with the [1996 c. 16.] National Crime Squad by virtue of section 23 above or section 24 or 98 of the Police Act 1996.

87 Causing disaffection

Any person who causes, or attempts to cause, or does any act calculated to cause, disaffection amongst the members of the National Crime Squad within section 55(1)(a) or (b), or induces or attempts to induce, or does any act calculated to induce, any such member to withhold his services, shall be guilty of an offence and liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both;

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine, or to both.

88 Application to NCS Service Authority of local authority enactments

Schedule 6 (which amends local authority enactments applying to police authorities so as to apply those enactments in a similar way to the NCS Service Authority) shall have effect.

General

89 Orders and regulations

Any power of the Secretary of State to make orders or regulations under this Part shall be exercisable by statutory instrument.

90 Interpretation of Part II

In this Part—

• “financial year” means the twelve months ending with 31st March;

• “NCIS” means the National Criminal Intelligence Service;

• “NCIS Service Authority” means the Service Authority for the National Criminal Intelligence Service;

• “NCS Service Authority” has the meaning given in section 47(1);

• “NCS service fund” means the fund established under section 61.

Part III Authorisation of Action in Respect of Property

The Commissioners

91 The Commissioners

(1) The Prime Minister shall appoint for the purposes of this Part—

(a) a Chief Commissioner, and

(b) such number of other Commissioners as the Prime Minister thinks fit.

(2) The persons appointed under subsection (1) shall be persons who hold or have held high judicial office within the meaning of the [1876 c. 59.] Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876.

(3) Subject to subsections (4) to (7), each Commissioner shall hold and vacate office in accordance with the terms of his appointment.

(4) Each Commissioner shall be appointed for a term of three years.

(5) A person who ceases to be a Commissioner (otherwise than under subsection (7)) may be reappointed under this section.

(6) Subject to subsection (7), a Commissioner shall not be removed from office before the end of the term for which he is appointed unless a resolution approving his removal has been passed by each House of Parliament.

(7) A Commissioner may be removed from office by the Prime Minister if after his appointment—

(a) a bankruptcy order is made against him or his estate is sequestrated or he makes a composition or arrangement with, or grants a trust deed for, his creditors;

(b) a disqualification order under the [1986 c. 46.] Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 or Part II of the [S.I. 1989/2404 (N.I.18).] Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1989, or an order under section 429(2)(b) of the [1986 c. 45.] Insolvency Act 1986 (failure to pay under county court administration order), is made against him; or

(c) he is convicted in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man of an offence and has passed on him a sentence of imprisonment (whether suspended or not).

(8) The Secretary of State shall pay to each Commissioner such allowances as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

(9) The Secretary of State shall, after consultation with the Chief Commissioner, provide the Commissioners with such staff as the Secretary of State considers necessary for the discharge of their functions.

(10) The decisions of the Chief Commissioner or, subject to sections 104 and 106, any other Commissioner (including decisions as to his jurisdiction) shall not be subject to appeal or liable to be questioned in any court.

Authorisations

92 Effect of authorisation under Part III

No entry on or interference with property or with wireless telegraphy shall be unlawful if it is authorised by an authorisation having effect under this Part.

93 Authorisations to interfere with property etc

(1) Where subsection (2) applies, an authorising officer may authorise—

(a) the taking of such action, in respect of such property in the relevant area, as he may specify, or

(b) the taking of such action in the relevant area as he may specify, in respect of wireless telegraphy.

(2) This subsection applies where the authorising officer believes—

(a) that it is necessary for the action specified to be taken on the ground that it is likely to be of substantial value in the prevention or detection of serious crime, and

(b) that what the action seeks to achieve cannot reasonably be achieved by other means.

(3) An authorising officer shall not give an authorisation under this section except on an application made—

(a) if the authorising officer is within subsection (5)(a) to (e), by a member of his police force,

(b) if the authorising officer is within subsection (5)(f), by a member of the National Criminal Intelligence Service,

(c) if the authorising officer is within subsection (5)(g), by a member of the National Crime Squad, or

(d) if the authorising officer is within subsection (5)(h), by a customs officer.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (2), conduct which constitutes one or more offences shall be regarded as serious crime if, and only if,—

(a) it involves the use of violence, results in substantial financial gain or is conduct by a large number of persons in pursuit of a common purpose, or

(b) the offence or one of the offences is an offence for which a person who has attained the age of twenty-one and has no previous convictions could reasonably be expected to be sentenced to imprisonment for a term of three years or more,

and, where the authorising officer is within subsection (5)(h), it relates to an assigned matter within the meaning of section 1(1) of the [1979 c. 2.] Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.

(5) In this section “authorising officer” means—

(a) the chief constable of a police force maintained under section 2 of the [1996 c. 16.] Police Act 1996 (maintenance of police forces for areas in England and Wales except London);

(b) the Commissioner, or an Assistant Commissioner, of Police of the Metropolis;

(c) the Commissioner of Police for the City of London;

(d) the chief constable of a police force maintained under or by virtue of section 1 of the [1967 c. 77.] Police (Scotland) Act 1967 (maintenance of police forces for areas in Scotland);

(e) the Chief Constable or a Deputy Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary;

(f) the Director General of the National Criminal Intelligence Service;

(g) the Director General of the National Crime Squad; or

(h) the customs officer designated by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise for the purposes of this paragraph.

(6) In this section “relevant area”—

(a) in relation to a person within paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of subsection (5), means the area in England and Wales for which his police force is maintained;

(b) in relation to a person within paragraph (d) of that subsection means the area in Scotland for which his police force is maintained;

(c) in relation to a person within paragraph (e) of that subsection, means Northern Ireland;

(d) in relation to the Director General of the National Criminal Intelligence Service, means the United Kingdom;

(e) in relation to the Director General of the National Crime Squad, means England and Wales; and

(f) in relation to the customs officer designated for the purposes of paragraph (h) of that subsection, means the United Kingdom,

and in each case includes the adjacent United Kingdom waters.

(7) The powers conferred by, or by virtue of, this section are additional to any other powers which a person has as a constable either at common law or under or by virtue of any other enactment and are not to be taken to affect any of those other powers.

94 Authorisations given in absence of authorising officer

(1) Subsection (2) applies where it is not reasonably practicable for an authorising officer to consider an application for an authorisation under section 93 and—

(a) if the authorising officer is within paragraph (b) or (e) of section 93(5), it is also not reasonably practicable for the application to be considered by any of the other persons within the paragraph concerned; or

(b) if the authorising officer is within paragraph (a), (c), (d), (f) or (g) of section 93(5), it is also not reasonably practicable for the application to be considered by his designated deputy.

(2) Where this subsection applies, the powers conferred on the authorising officer by section 93 may, in an urgent case, be exercised—

(a) where the authorising officer is within paragraph (a) or (d) of subsection (5) of that section, by a person holding the rank of assistant chief constable in his force;

(b) where the authorising officer is within paragraph (b) of that subsection, by a person holding the rank of commander in the metropolitan police force;

(c) where the authorising officer is within paragraph (c) of that subsection, by a person holding the rank of commander in the City of London police force;

(d) where the authorising officer is within paragraph (e) of that subsection, by a person holding the rank of assistant chief constable in the Royal Ulster Constabulary;

(e) where the authorising officer is within paragraph (f) or (g) of that subsection by a person designated for the purposes of this section by the Director General of the National Criminal Intelligence Service or, as the case may be, of the National Crime Squad;

(f) where the authorising officer is within paragraph (h) of that subsection, by a customs officer designated by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise for the purposes of this section.

(3) A police member of the National Criminal Intelligence Service or the National Crime Squad appointed under section 9(1)(b) or 55(1)(b) may not be designated under subsection (2)(e) unless—

(a) he has held the rank of assistant chief constable in a police force maintained under section 2 of the [1996 c. 16.] Police Act 1996 or under or by virtue of section 1 of the [1967 c. 77.] Police (Scotland) Act 1967, or in the Royal Ulster Constabulary, or

(b) he has held the rank of commander in the metropolitan police force or the City of London police force.

(4) In subsection (1), “designated deputy”—

(a) in the case of an authorising officer within paragraph (a) or (d) of section 93(5), means the person holding the rank of assistant chief constable designated to act in his absence under section 12(4) of the [1996 c. 16.] Police Act 1996 or, as the case may be, section 5(4) of the [1967 c. 77.] Police (Scotland) Act 1967;

(b) in the case of an authorising officer within paragraph (c) of section 93(5), means the person authorised to act in his absence under section 25 of the [1839 c. xciv.] City of London Police Act 1839; and

(c) in the case of an authorising officer within paragraph (f) or (g) of section 93(5), means the person designated to act in his absence under section 8 or 54.

95 Authorisations: form and duration etc

(1) An authorisation shall be in writing, except that in an urgent case an authorisation (other than one given by virtue of section 94) may be given orally.

(2) An authorisation shall, unless renewed under subsection (3), cease to have effect—

(a) if given orally or by virtue of section 94, at the end of the period of 72 hours beginning with the time when it took effect;

(b) in any other case, at the end of the period of three months beginning with the day on which it took effect.

(3) If at any time before an authorisation would cease to have effect the authorising officer who gave the authorisation, or in whose absence it was given, considers it necessary for the authorisation to continue to have effect for the purpose for which it was issued, he may, in writing, renew it for a period of three months beginning with the day on which it would cease to have effect.

(4) A person shall cancel an authorisation given by him if satisfied that the action authorised by it is no longer necessary.

(5) An authorising officer shall cancel an authorisation given in his absence if satisfied that the action authorised by it is no longer necessary.

(6) If the authorising officer who gave the authorisation is within paragraph (b) or (e) of section 93(5), the power conferred on that person by subsections (3) and (4) above shall also be exercisable by each of the other persons within the paragraph concerned.

(7) Nothing in this section shall prevent a designated deputy from exercising the powers conferred on an authorising officer within paragraph (a), (c), (d), (f) or (g) of section 93(5) by subsections (3), (4) and (5) above.

96 Notification of authorisations etc

(1) Where a person gives, renews or cancels an authorisation, he shall, as soon as is reasonably practicable and in accordance with arrangements made by the Chief Commissioner, give notice in writing that he has done so to a Commissioner appointed under section 91(1)(b).

(2) Subject to subsection (3), a notice under this section shall specify such matters as the Secretary of State may by order prescribe.

(3) A notice under this section of the giving or renewal of an authorisation shall specify—

(a) whether section 97 applies to the authorisation or renewal, and

(b) where that section does not apply by virtue of subsection (3) of that section, the grounds on which the case is believed to be one of urgency.

(4) Where a notice is given to a Commissioner under this section, he shall, as soon as is reasonably practicable, scrutinise the notice.

(5) An order under subsection (2) shall be made by statutory instrument.

(6) A statutory instrument which contains an order under subsection (2) shall not be made unless a draft has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

Authorisations requiring approval

97 Authorisations requiring approval

(1) An authorisation to which this section applies shall not take effect until—

(a) it has been approved in accordance with this section by a Commissioner appointed under section 91(1)(b), and

(b) the person who gave the authorisation has been notified under subsection (4).

(2) Subject to subsection (3), this section applies to an authorisation if, at the time it is given, the person who gives it believes—

(a) that any of the property specified in the authorisation—

(i) is used wholly or mainly as a dwelling or as a bedroom in a hotel, or

(ii) constitutes office premises, or

(b) that the action authorised by it is likely to result in any person acquiring knowledge of—

(i) matters subject to legal privilege,

(ii) confidential personal information, or

(iii) confidential journalistic material.

(3) This section does not apply to an authorisation where the person who gives it believes that the case is one of urgency.

(4) Where a Commissioner receives a notice under section 96 which specifies that this section applies to the authorisation, he shall as soon as is reasonably practicable—

(a) decide whether to approve the authorisation or refuse approval, and

(b) give written notice of his decision to the person who gave the authorisation.

(5) A Commissioner shall approve an authorisation if, and only if, he is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing the matters specified in section 93(2).

(6) Where a Commissioner refuses to approve an authorisation, he shall, as soon as is reasonably practicable, make a report of his findings to the authorising officer who gave it or in whose absence it was given (and paragraph 7 of Schedule 7 shall apply for the purposes of this subsection as it applies for the purposes of that Schedule).

(7) This section shall apply in relation to a renewal of an authorisation as it applies in relation to an authorisation (the references in subsection (2)(a) and (b) to the authorisation being construed as references to the authorisation renewed).

(8) In this section—

• “office premises” has the meaning given in section 1(2) of the [1963 c. 41.] Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963;

• “hotel” means premises used for the reception of guests who desire to sleep in the premises.

98 Matters subject to legal privilege

(1) Subject to subsection (5) below, in section 97 “matters subject to legal privilege” means matters to which subsection (2), (3) or (4) below applies.

(2) This subsection applies to communications between a professional legal adviser and—

(a) his client, or

(b) any person representing his client,

which are made in connection with the giving of legal advice to the client.

(3) This subsection applies to communications—

(a) between a professional legal adviser and his client or any person representing his client, or

(b) between a professional legal adviser or his client or any such representative and any other person,

which are made in connection with or in contemplation of legal proceedings and for the purposes of such proceedings.

(4) This subsection applies to items enclosed with or referred to in communications of the kind mentioned in subsection (2) or (3) and made—

(a) in connection with the giving of legal advice, or

(b) in connection with or in contemplation of legal proceedings and for the purposes of such proceedings.

(5) For the purposes of section 97—

(a) communications and items are not matters subject to legal privilege when they are in the possession of a person who is not entitled to possession of them, and

(b) communications and items held, or oral communications made, with the intention of furthering a criminal purpose are not matters subject to legal privilege.

99 Confidential personal information

(1) In section 97 “confidential personal information” means—

(a) personal information which a person has acquired or created in the course of any trade, business, profession or other occupation or for the purposes of any paid or unpaid office, and which he holds in confidence, and

(b) communications as a result of which personal information—

(i) is acquired or created as mentioned in paragraph (a), and

(ii) is held in confidence.

(2) For the purposes of this section “personal information” means information concerning an individual (whether living or dead) who can be identified from it and relating—

(a) to his physical or mental health, or

(b) to spiritual counselling or assistance given or to be given to him.

(3) A person holds information in confidence for the purposes of this section if he holds it subject—

(a) to an express or implied undertaking to hold it in confidence, or

(b) to a restriction on disclosure or an obligation of secrecy contained in any enactment (including an enactment contained in an Act passed after this Act).

100 Confidential journalistic material

(1) In section 97 “confidential journalistic material” means—

(a) material acquired or created for the purposes of journalism which—

(i) is in the possession of persons who acquired or created it for those purposes,

(ii) is held subject to an undertaking, restriction or obligation of the kind mentioned in section 99(3), and

(iii) has been continuously held (by one or more persons) subject to such an undertaking, restriction or obligation since it was first acquired or created for the purposes of journalism, and

(b) communications as a result of which information is acquired for the purposes of journalism and held as mentioned in paragraph (a)(ii).

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a person who receives material, or acquires information, from someone who intends that the recipient shall use it for the purposes of journalism is to be taken to have acquired it for those purposes.

Code of Practice

101 Code of practice

(1) The Secretary of State shall issue a code of practice in connection with the performance of functions under this Part by persons other than Commissioners appointed under section 91.

(2) Before issuing a code of practice under subsection (1), the Secretary of State shall prepare and publish a draft of that code, shall consider any representations made to him about the draft and may modify the draft accordingly.

(3) The Secretary of State shall lay before both Houses of Parliament a draft of the code of practice prepared by him under this section.

(4) The code of practice laid before Parliament in draft under subsection (3) shall not be brought into operation except in accordance with an order made by the Secretary of State by statutory instrument.

(5) A statutory instrument which contains an order under subsection (4) shall not be made unless a draft has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

(6) An order bringing the code into operation may contain such transitional provisions or savings as appear to the Secretary of State to be necessary or expedient in connection with the bringing into operation of that code.

(7) The Secretary of State may from time to time revise the whole or any part of a code to which this section applies and issue that revised code; and the foregoing provision of this section shall apply (with appropriate modifications) to such a revised code as they apply to the first issue of the code.

(8) Persons, other than Commissioners appointed under section 91, shall have regard to any code of practice issued under this section in the performance of their functions under this Part.

(9) A failure on the part of any person to comply with any provision of a code of practice issued under this section shall not of itself render him liable to any criminal or civil proceedings.

(10) A code issued under this section shall be admissible in evidence in criminal and civil proceedings; and if any provision of such a code appears to the court or tribunal conducting the proceedings to be relevant to any question arising in the proceedings it shall be taken into account in determining that question.

Complaints etc.

102 Complaints

(1) Where a complaint is made, in accordance with arrangements made by the Chief Commissioner, to a Commissioner appointed under section 91(1)(b), the Commissioner shall investigate the complaint if and so far as it alleges that anything has been done in relation to any property of the complainant in pursuance of an authorisation under section 93(1)(a) or (b).

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a place where the complainant works or resides shall be treated as property of the complainant.

(3) A Commissioner’s duty under this section does not extend to a complaint if he considers that it is frivolous or vexatious.

(4) Schedule 7 makes further provision in relation to the investigation of complaints by a Commissioner.

103 Quashing of authorisations etc

(1) Where, at any time, a Commissioner appointed under section 91(1)(b) is satisfied that, at the time an authorisation was given or renewed, there were no reasonable grounds for believing the matters specified in section 93(2), he may quash the authorisation or, as the case may be, renewal.

(2) Where, in the case of an authorisation or renewal to which section 97 does not apply, a Commissioner appointed under section 91(1)(b) is at any time satisfied that, at the time the authorisation was given or, as the case may be, renewed,—

(a) there were reasonable grounds for believing any of the matters specified in subsection (2) of section 97, and

(b) there were no reasonable grounds for believing the case to be one of urgency for the purposes of subsection (3) of that section,

he may quash the authorisation or, as the case may be, renewal.

(3) Where a Commissioner quashes an authorisation or renewal under subsection (1) or (2), he may order the destruction of any records relating to information obtained by virtue of the authorisation (or, in the case of a renewal, relating wholly or partly to information so obtained after the renewal) other than records required for pending criminal or civil proceedings.

(4) If a Commissioner appointed under section 91(1)(b) is satisfied that, at any time after an authorisation was given or, in the case of an authorisation renewed under section 95, after it was renewed, there were no reasonable grounds for believing the matters specified in section 93(2), he may cancel the authorisation.

(5) Where—

(a) an authorisation has ceased to have effect (otherwise than by virtue of subsection (1) or (2)), and

(b) a Commissioner appointed under section 91(1)(b) is satisfied that, at any time during the period of the authorisation, there were no reasonable grounds for believing the matters specified in section 93(2),

he may order the destruction of any records relating, wholly or partly, to information which was obtained by virtue of the authorisation after that time (other than records required for pending criminal or civil proceedings).

(6) Where a Commissioner exercises his powers under subsection (1), (2) or (4), he shall, if he is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for doing so, order that the authorisation shall be effective, for such period as he shall specify, so far as it authorises the taking of action to retrieve anything left on property in accordance with the authorisation.

(7) Where a Commissioner exercises a power conferred by this section, he shall, as soon as is reasonably practicable, make a report of his findings—

(a) to the authorising officer who gave the authorisation or in whose absence it was given, and

(b) to the Chief Commissioner;

and paragraph 7 of Schedule 7 shall apply for the purposes of this subsection as it applies for the purposes of that Schedule.

(8) Where—

(a) a decision is made under subsection (1) or (2) and an order for the destruction of records is made under subsection (3), or

(b) a decision to order the destruction of records is made under subsection (5),

the order shall not become operative until the period for appealing against the decision has expired and, where an appeal is made, a decision dismissing it has been made by the Chief Commissioner.

(9) A Commissioner may exercise any of the powers conferred by this section notwithstanding any approval given under section 97.

Appeals

104 Appeals by authorising officers

(1) An authorising officer who gives an authorisation, or in whose absence it is given, may, within the prescribed period, appeal to the Chief Commissioner against—

(a) any refusal to approve the authorisation or any renewal of it under section 97;

(b) any decision to quash the authorisation, or any renewal of it, under subsection (1) of section 103;

(c) any decision to quash the authorisation, or any renewal of it, under subsection (2) of that section;

(d) any decision to cancel the authorisation under subsection (4) of that section;

(e) any decision to order the destruction of records under subsection (5) of that section;

(f) any refusal to make an order under subsection (6) of that section;

(g) any determination in favour of a complainant under Schedule 7.

(2) In subsection (1), “the prescribed period” means the period of seven days beginning with the day on which the refusal, decision or, as the case may be, determination appealed against is reported to the authorising officer.

(3) In determining an appeal within subsection (1)(a), the Chief Commissioner shall, if he is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing the matters specified in section 93(2), allow the appeal and direct the Commissioner to approve the authorisation or renewal under that section.

(4) In determining—

(a) an appeal within subsection (1)(b), or

(b) an appeal within subsection (1)(g), in a case where paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 7 applies,

the Chief Commissioner shall allow the appeal unless he is satisfied that, at the time the authorisation was given or, as the case may be, renewed there were no reasonable grounds for believing the matters specified in section 93(2).

(5) In determining—

(a) an appeal within subsection (1)(c), or

(b) an appeal within subsection (1)(g), in a case where paragraph 2(3) of Schedule 7 applies,

the Chief Commissioner shall allow the appeal unless he is satisfied as mentioned in section 103(2).

(6) In determining—

(a) an appeal within subsection (1)(d) or (e), or

(b) an appeal within subsection (1)(g), in a case where paragraph 2(4) of Schedule 7 applies,

the Chief Commissioner shall allow the appeal unless he is satisfied that at the time to which the decision relates there were no reasonable grounds for believing the matters specified in section 93(2).

(7) In determining an appeal within subsection (1)(f), the Chief Commissioner shall allow the appeal and order that the authorisation shall be effective to the extent mentioned in section 103(6), for such period as he shall specify, if he is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for making such an order.

(8) Where an appeal is allowed under this section, the Chief Commissioner shall—

(a) in the case of an appeal within subsection (1)(b) or (c), also quash any order made by the Commissioner to destroy records relating to information obtained by virtue of the authorisation concerned, and

(b) in the case of an appeal within subsection (1)(g), also quash any direction to pay compensation to the complainant.

105 Appeals by authorising officers: supplementary

(1) Where the Chief Commissioner determines an appeal under section 104—

(a) he shall give notice of his determination—

(i) to the authorising officer concerned,

(ii) to the Commissioner against whose refusal, decision or determination the appeal was made, and

(iii) in the case of an appeal within subsection (1)(g) of that section, to the complainant, and

(b) if he dismisses the appeal, he shall make a report of his findings—

(i) to the authorising officer concerned,

(ii) to the Commissioner against whose refusal, decision or determination the appeal was made, and

(iii) under section 107(2), to the Prime Minister.

(2) Subject to subsection (1)(b), the Chief Commissioner shall not give any reasons for a determination under section 104.

(3) Nothing in section 104 shall prevent a designated deputy from exercising the powers conferred by subsection (1) of that section on an authorising officer within paragraph (a), (c), (d), (f) or (g) of section 93(5).

106 Appeals by complainants

(1) Where a complainant is notified under paragraph 3(2) of Schedule 7 that no determination in his favour has been made on a complaint, he may, within the period of seven days beginning with the day on which he receives the notice, appeal to the Chief Commissioner against the decision.

(2) Where a complainant appeals under this section, the Chief Commissioner shall have—

(a) all the powers and duties conferred by Schedule 7 on a Commissioner appointed under section 91(1)(b) who is required to investigate a complaint, and

(b) where the Chief Commissioner makes a determination in favour of the complainant by virtue of paragraph (a), all the powers and duties conferred by section 103.

(3) Where, by virtue of subsection (2), the Chief Commissioner makes an order to destroy records under section 103 or directs the payment of compensation under Schedule 7, subsection (8) of that section and paragraph 5(2) of that Schedule shall not apply.

(4) The Chief Commissioner shall make a report of his findings on an appeal under this section—

(a) to the Commissioner who made the decision appealed against, and

(b) where he allows the appeal, to the Prime Minister under section 107(2).

General

107 Supplementary provisions relating to Commissioners

(1) The Chief Commissioner shall keep under review the performance of functions under this Part.

(2) The Chief Commissioner shall make an annual report on the discharge of functions under this Part to the Prime Minister and may at any time report to him on any matter relating to those functions.

(3) The Prime Minister shall lay before each House of Parliament a copy of each annual report made by the Chief Commissioner under subsection (2) together with a statement as to whether any matter has been excluded from that copy in pursuance of subsection (4) below.

(4) The Prime Minister may exclude a matter from the copy of a report as laid before each House of Parliament, if it appears to him, after consultation with the Chief Commissioner, that the publication of that matter in the report would be prejudicial to the prevention or detection of serious crime or otherwise to the discharge of—

(a) the functions of any police authority,

(b) the functions of the Service Authority for the National Criminal Intelligence Service or the Service Authority for the National Crime Squad, or

(c) the duties of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise.

(5) Any person having functions under this Part, and any person taking action in relation to which an authorisation was given, shall comply with any request of a Commissioner for documents or information required by him for the purpose of enabling him to discharge his functions.

(6) In this section, “serious crime” shall be construed in accordance with section 93(4).

108 Interpretation of Part III

(1) In this Part—

• “authorisation” means an authorisation under section 93;

• “authorising officer” has the meaning given by section 93(5);

• “criminal proceedings” includes—

  (a)

  proceedings in the United Kingdom or elsewhere before a court-martial constituted under the [1955 c. 18.] Army Act 1955, the [1955 c. 19.] Air Force Act 1955 or the [1957 c. 53.] Naval Discipline Act 1957 or a disciplinary court constituted under section 50 of the Act of 1957,

  (b)

  proceedings before the Courts-Martial Appeal Court, and

  (c)

  proceedings before a Standing Civilian Court;

• “customs officer” means an officer commissioned by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise under section 6(3) of the [1979 c. 2.] Customs and Excise Management Act 1979;

• “designated deputy” has the meaning given in section 94(4);

• “United Kingdom waters” has the meaning given in section 30(5) of the [1996 c. 16.] Police Act 1996; and

• “wireless telegraphy” has the same meaning as in the [1949 c. 54.] Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 and, in relation to wireless telegraphy, “interfere” has the same meaning as in that Act.

(2) Where, under this Part, notice of any matter is required to be given in writing, the notice may be transmitted by electronic means.

(3) For the purposes of this Part, an authorisation (or renewal) given—

(a) by the designated deputy of an authorising officer, or

(b) by a person on whom an authorising officer’s powers are conferred by section 94,

shall be treated as an authorisation (or renewal) given in the absence of the authorising officer concerned; and references to the authorising officer in whose absence an authorisation (or renewal) was given shall be construed accordingly.

Part IV Police Information Technology Organisation

109 Police Information Technology Organisation

(1) There shall be a body corporate to be known as the Police Information Technology Organisation (“the Organisation”).

(2) Schedule 8 (which makes provision about the Organisation) shall have effect.

(3) The Organisation may carry out activities (including the commissioning of research) relating to information technology equipment and systems for the use of—

(a) police authorities and police forces, and

(b) such other bodies as the Secretary of State may determine by order made by statutory instrument.

(4) The Organisation may also procure or assist in procuring other equipment, systems and services for any body falling within subsection (3)(a) or (b).

(5) Any statutory instrument made by virtue of subsection (3)(b) shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(6) In this Part “information technology” includes any computer or other technology by means of which information or other matter may be recorded or communicated without being reduced to documentary form.

110 Relationship between the Organisation and the Secretary of State

(1) In exercising its functions the Organisation shall comply with any general or specific directions given in writing by the Secretary of State.

(2) Before giving directions under subsection (1), the Secretary of State shall consult the Organisation.

(3) The Organisation shall provide the Secretary of State with such information about its activities as he may request.

111 Interpretation of Part IV

(1) In this Part, except where the context otherwise requires, “police authority” means—

(a) a police authority for an area in Great Britain or a joint police board (within the meaning of the [1967 c. 77.] Police (Scotland) Act 1967),

(b) the Police Authority for Northern Ireland,

(c) the Service Authority for the National Criminal Intelligence Service, and

(d) the Service Authority for the National Crime Squad.

(2) In this Part, except where the context otherwise requires, “chief officer of police” means—

(a) a chief officer of police of a police force in England and Wales,

(b) a chief constable of a police force in Scotland,

(c) the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary,

(d) the Director General of the National Criminal Intelligence Service, and

(e) the Director General of the National Crime Squad.

(3) In this Part “police force” means—

(a) a police force in Great Britain,

(b) the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve,

(c) the National Criminal Intelligence Service, and

(d) the National Crime Squad.

Part V Certificates of Criminal Records, &c.

112 Criminal conviction certificates

(1) The Secretary of State shall issue a criminal conviction certificate to any individual who—

(a) makes an application in the prescribed form, and

(b) pays any fee that is payable in relation to the application under regulations made by the Secretary of State.

(2) A criminal conviction certificate is a certificate which—

(a) gives the prescribed details of every conviction of the applicant which is recorded in central records, or

(b) states that there is no such conviction.

(3) In this section—

• “central records” means such records of convictions held for the use of police forces generally as may be prescribed;

• “conviction” means a conviction within the meaning of the [1974 c. 53.] Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, other than a spent conviction.

(4) Where an applicant has received a criminal conviction certificate, the Secretary of State may refuse to issue another certificate to that applicant during such period as may be prescribed.

113 Criminal record certificates

(1) The Secretary of State shall issue a criminal record certificate to any individual who—

(a) makes an application under this section in the prescribed form countersigned by a registered person, and

(b) pays any fee that is payable in relation to the application under regulations made by the Secretary of State.

(2) An application under this section must be accompanied by a statement by the registered person that the certificate is required for the purposes of an exempted question.

(3) A criminal record certificate is a certificate which—

(a) gives the prescribed details of every relevant matter relating to the applicant which is recorded in central records, or

(b) states that there is no such matter.

(4) The Secretary of State shall send a copy of a criminal record certificate to the registered person who countersigned the application.

(5) In this section—

• “central records” means such records of convictions and cautions held for the use of police forces generally as may be prescribed;

• “exempted question” means a question in relation to which section 4(2)(a) or (b) of the [1974 c. 53.] Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (effect of rehabilitation) has been excluded by an order of the Secretary of State under section 4(4);

• “relevant matter” means—

  (i)

  a conviction within the meaning of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, including a spent conviction, and

  (ii)

  a caution.

114 Criminal record certificates: Crown employment

(1) The Secretary of State shall issue a criminal record certificate to any individual who—

(a) makes an application under this section in the prescribed form, and

(b) pays any fee that is payable in relation to the application under regulations made by the Secretary of State.

(2) An application under this section must be accompanied by a statement by a Minister of the Crown that the certificate is required for the purposes of an exempted question asked in the course of considering the applicant’s suitability for an appointment by or under the Crown.

(3) Section 113(3) to (5) shall apply in relation to this section with any necessary modifications.

115 Enhanced criminal record certificates

(1) The Secretary of State shall issue an enhanced criminal record certificate to any individual who—

(a) makes an application under this section in the prescribed form countersigned by a registered person, and

(b) pays any fee that is payable in relation to the application under regulations made by the Secretary of State.

(2) An application under this section must be accompanied by a statement by the registered person that the certificate is required for the purposes of an exempted question asked—

(a) in the course of considering the applicant’s suitability for a position (whether paid or unpaid) within subsection (3) or (4), or

(b) for a purpose relating to any of the matters listed in subsection (5).

(3) A position is within this subsection if it involves regularly caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of persons aged under 18.

(4) A position is within this subsection if—

(a) it is of a kind specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State, and

(b) it involves regularly caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of persons aged 18 or over.

(5) The matters referred to in subsection (2)(b) are—

(a) a certificate for the purposes of sections 19 or 27(1) or (5) of the [1968 c. 65.] Gaming Act 1968 (gaming);

(b) a certificate of consent, or a licence, for any purpose of Schedule 2 to that Act (licences);

(c) registration or certification in accordance with Schedule 1A, 2 or 2A to the [1976 c. 32.] Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976 (societies, schemes and lottery managers);

(d) a licence under section 5 or 6 of the [1993 c. 39.] National Lottery etc. Act 1993 (running or promoting lotteries);

(e) registration under section 71 of the [1989 c. 41.] Children Act 1989 or Article 118 of the [S.I. 1995/755 (N.I. 2).] Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (child minding and day care);

(f) the placing of children with foster parents in accordance with any provision of, or made by virtue of, the Children Act 1989 or the [S.I. 1995/755 (N.I. 2).] Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 or the exercise of any duty under or by virtue of section 67 of that Act or Article 108 of that Order (welfare of privately fostered children);

(g) the approval of any person as a foster carer by virtue of section 5(2), (3) and (4) of the [1968 c. 49.] Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, the exercise by a local authority of their functions under the [1984 c. 56.] Foster Children (Scotland) Act 1984 or the placing of children with foster parents by virtue of section 70 of the [1995 c. 36.] Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (disposal of referral by children’s hearing).

(6) An enhanced criminal record certificate is a certificate which—

(a) gives—

(i) the prescribed details of every relevant matter relating to the applicant which is recorded in central records, and

(ii) any information provided in accordance with subsection (7), or

(b) states that there is no such matter or information.

(7) Before issuing an enhanced criminal record certificate the Secretary of State shall request the chief officer of every relevant police force to provide any information which, in the chief officer’s opinion—

(a) might be relevant for the purpose described in the statement under subsection (2), and

(b) ought to be included in the certificate.

(8) The Secretary of State shall also request the chief officer of every relevant police force to provide any information which, in the chief officer’s opinion—

(a) might be relevant for the purpose described in the statement under subsection (2),

(b) ought not to be included in the certificate, in the interests of the prevention or detection of crime, and

(c) can, without harming those interests, be disclosed to the registered person.

(9) The Secretary of State shall send to the registered person who countersigned an application under this section—

(a) a copy of the enhanced criminal record certificate, and

(b) any information provided in accordance with subsection (8).

(10) In this section—

• “central records”, “exempted question” and “relevant matter” have the same meaning as in section 113; and

• “relevant police force”, in relation to an application under this section, means a police force which is a relevant police force in relation to that application under regulations made by the Secretary of State.

116 Enhanced criminal record certificates: judicial appointments and Crown employment

(1) The Secretary of State shall issue an enhanced criminal record certificate to any individual who—

(a) makes an application under this section in the prescribed form, and

(b) pays any fee that is payable in relation to the application under regulations made by the Secretary of State.

(2) An application under this section must be accompanied by a statement by a Minister of the Crown, or a person nominated by a Minister of the Crown, that the certificate is required for the purposes of an exempted question asked in the course of considering the applicant’s suitability for—

(a) a judicial appointment, or

(b) an appointment by or under the Crown to a position to which subsection (3) or (4) of section 115 applies.

(3) Section 115(6) to (10) shall apply in relation to this section with any necessary modifications.

117 Disputes about accuracy of certificates

(1) Where an applicant for a certificate under any of sections 112 to 116 believes that the information contained in the certificate is inaccurate he may make an application in writing to the Secretary of State for a new certificate.

(2) The Secretary of State shall consider any application under this section; and where he is of the opinion that the information in the certificate is inaccurate he shall issue a new certificate.

118 Evidence of identity

(1) The Secretary of State may refuse to issue a certificate under this Part, or to consider an application under section 117, unless the application is supported by such evidence of identity as he may require.

(2) In particular, the Secretary of State may refuse to issue a certificate or consider an application unless the applicant—

(a) has his fingerprints taken at such place and in such manner as may be prescribed, and

(b) pays the prescribed fee to such person as may be prescribed.

(3) Regulations dealing with the taking of fingerprints may make provision requiring their destruction in specified circumstances and by specified persons.

(4) Regulations prescribing a fee for the purposes of subsection (2)(b) shall make provision for a refund in cases of an application under section 117 where a new certificate is issued.

119 Sources of information

(1) Any person who holds records of convictions or cautions for the use of police forces generally shall make those records available to the Secretary of State for the purposes of an application under this Part.

(2) Where the chief officer of a police force receives a request under section 115 or 116 he shall comply with it as soon as practicable.

(3) The Secretary of State shall pay to the appropriate police authority, or, in the case of the metropolitan police force, the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District, the prescribed fee for information provided in accordance with subsection (2).

(4) Any person who holds records of fingerprints for the use of police forces generally shall make those records available to the Secretary of State for the purposes of an application under this Part.

(5) No proceedings shall lie against the Secretary of State by reason of an inaccuracy in the information made available or provided to him in accordance with this section.

120 Registered persons

(1) For the purposes of this Part a registered person is a person who is listed in a register to be maintained by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Part.

(2) Subject to regulations under subsection (3), the Secretary of State shall include in the register any person who applies to him in writing to be registered and satisfies the conditions in subsections (4) to (6).

(3) The Secretary of State may make regulations about the maintenance of the register; and regulations may, in particular, provide for—

(a) the information to be included in the register,

(b) the removal from the register of persons who are, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, no longer likely to wish to countersign applications under section 113 or 115, and

(c) the payment of fees.

(4) A person applying for registration under this section must be—

(a) a body corporate or unincorporate,

(b) a person appointed to an office by virtue of any enactment, or

(c) an individual who employs others in the course of a business.

(5) A body applying for registration under this section must satisfy the Secretary of State that it—

(a) is likely to ask exempted questions, or

(b) is likely to countersign applications under section 113 or 115 at the request of bodies or individuals asking exempted questions.

(6) A person, other than a body, applying for registration under this section must satisfy the Secretary of State that he is likely to ask exempted questions.

(7) In this section “exempted question” has the same meaning as in section 113.

121 Performance by constables on central service in Scotland of functions under this Part

In Scotland a constable engaged on central service (within the meaning of section 38 of the [1967 c. 77.] Police (Scotland) Act 1967) may perform functions under this Part (other than functions under section 114(2), 115(4) or (10), 116(2), 122(1) or (2) or 125) on behalf of the Secretary of State; and without prejudice to the application of subsection (5) of section 119 in respect of any other person performing functions on behalf of the Secretary of State, that subsection shall apply in respect of any constable performing functions by virtue of this section as the subsection applies in respect of the Secretary of State.

122 Code of practice

(1) The Secretary of State shall publish, and may from time to time revise, a code of practice in connection with the use of information provided to registered persons under this Part.

(2) The Secretary of State shall lay before Parliament the code of practice under this section as soon as practicable after publication and after revision.

(3) The Secretary of State may refuse to issue a certificate under section 113 or 115 if he believes that the registered person who countersigned the application—

(a) has failed to comply with the code of practice under this section, or

(b) countersigned at the request of a body which, or individual who, has failed to comply with the code of practice.

123 Offences: falsification, &c

(1) A person commits an offence if, with intent to deceive, he—

(a) makes a false certificate under this Part,

(b) alters a certificate under this Part,

(c) uses a certificate under this Part which relates to another person in a way which suggests that it relates to himself, or

(d) allows a certificate under this Part which relates to him to be used by another person in a way which suggests that it relates to that other person.

(2) A person commits an offence if he knowingly makes a false statement for the purpose of obtaining, or enabling another person to obtain, a certificate under this Part.

(3) A person who is guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or to both.

124 Offences: disclosure

(1) A member, officer or employee of a body registered under section 120 commits an offence if he discloses information provided following an application under section 113 or 115 unless he discloses it, in the course of his duties,—

(a) to another member, officer or employee of the registered body,

(b) to a member, officer or employee of a body at the request of which the registered body countersigned the application, or

(c) to an individual at whose request the registered body countersigned the relevant application.

(2) Where information is provided under section 113 or 115 following an application countersigned at the request of a body which is not registered under section 120, a member, officer or employee of the body commits an offence if he discloses the information unless he discloses it, in the course of his duties, to another member, officer or employee of that body.

(3) Where information is provided under section 113 or 115 following an application countersigned by or at the request of an individual—

(a) the individual commits an offence if he discloses the information unless he discloses it to an employee of his for the purpose of the employee’s duties, and

(b) an employee of the individual commits an offence if he discloses the information unless he discloses it, in the course of his duties, to another employee of the individual.

(4) Where information provided under section 113 or 115 is disclosed to a person and the disclosure—

(a) is an offence under this section, or

(b) would be an offence under this section but for subsection (5) or (6)(a), (d), (e) or (f),

the person to whom the information is disclosed commits an offence (subject to subsections (5) and (6)) if he discloses it to any other person.

(5) Subsections (1) to (4) do not apply to a disclosure of information provided in accordance with section 115(8) which is made with the written consent of the chief officer who provided the information.

(6) Subsections (1) to (4) do not apply to a disclosure of information contained in a certificate under section 113 or 115 which is made—

(a) with the written consent of the applicant for the certificate, or

(b) to a government department, or

(c) to a person appointed to an office by virtue of any enactment, or

(d) in accordance with an obligation to provide information under or by virtue of any enactment, or

(e) for the purposes of answering an exempted question (within the meaning of section 113) of a kind specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State, or

(f) for some other purpose specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State.

(7) A person who is guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale, or to both.

125 Regulations

(1) Anything authorised or required by any provision of this Part to be prescribed shall be prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State.

(2) Regulations under this Part shall be made by statutory instrument.

(3) A statutory instrument which contains (whether alone or with other provisions) regulations made by virtue of section 115(4) shall not be made unless a draft has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, each House of Parliament.

(4) A statutory instrument to which subsection (3) does not apply shall be subject to annulment pursuant to a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(5) Regulations under this Part may make different provision for different cases.

126 Interpretation of Part V

(1) In this Part—

• “caution” means a caution given to a person in England and Wales or Northern Ireland in respect of an offence which, at the time when the caution is given, he has admitted;

• “certificate” means any one or more documents issued in response to a particular application;

• “chief officer” means—

  (i)

  a chief officer of police of a police force in England and Wales,

  (ii)

  a chief constable of a police force in Scotland, and

  (iii)

  the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary;

• “government department” includes a Northern Ireland department;

• “Minister of the Crown” includes a Northern Ireland department;

• “police authority” means—

  (i)

  a police authority for an area in Great Britain or a joint police board (within the meaning of the [1967 c. 77.] Police (Scotland) Act 1967), and

  (ii)

  the Police Authority for Northern Ireland;

• “police force” means—

  (i)

  a police force in Great Britain, and

  (ii)

  the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve;

• “prescribed” shall be construed in accordance with section 125(1).

(2) In the application of this Part to Northern Ireland, a reference to the [1974 c. 53.] Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, or to a provision of that Act, shall be construed as a reference to the [S.I. 1978/1908 (N.I. 27).] Rehabilitation of Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 or, as the case may be, to the corresponding provision of that order.

127 Saving: disclosure of information and records

Nothing in sections 112 to 119 shall be taken to prejudice any power which exists apart from this Act to disclose information or to make records available.

Part VI Miscellaneous

Amendments of Police Act 1996

128 Regulations for special constables and police cadets

(1) In section 51 of the [1996 c. 16.] Police Act 1996 (regulations for special constables), after subsection (3) there shall be inserted—

“(3A) In relation to any matter as to which provision may be made by regulations under this section, the regulations may—

(a) authorise or require provision to be made by, or confer discretionary powers on, the Secretary of State, police authorities, chief officers of police or other persons, or

(b) authorise or require the delegation by any person of functions conferred on that person by or under the regulations.”.

(2) In section 52 of that Act (regulations for police cadets) after subsection (1) there shall be inserted—

“(1A) In relation to any matter as to which provision may be made by regulations under this section, the regulations may—

(a) authorise or require provision to be made by, or confer discretionary powers on, the Secretary of State, police authorities, chief officers of police or other persons, or

(b) authorise or require the delegation by any person of functions conferred on that person by or under the regulations.”.

129 Change of name or description of certain police areas

In Schedule 1 to the Police Act 1996 (police areas for England and Wales except London)—

(a) in the entry in the first column for “Humberside” there shall be substituted “Humber”;

(b) in the entry in the second column opposite the name of the Dyfed Powys police area for “Cardiganshire” there shall be substituted “Ceredigion”;

(c) for the entry in that column opposite the name of the North Wales police area there shall be substituted—

“The counties of the Isle of Anglesey, Gwynedd, Denbighshire and Flintshire and the county boroughs of Conwy and Wrexham.”;

(d) in the entry in that column opposite the name of the South Wales police area for “Neath and Port Talbot” there shall be substituted “Neath Port Talbot”.

Amendments of Police Act (Northern Ireland) 1970

130 Members of RUC engaged on service outside their force

For section 21 of the [1970 c. 9 (N.I.).] Police Act (Northern Ireland) 1970 there shall be substituted—

“21 Members of RUC engaged on service outside their force

(1) For the purposes of this section “relevant service” means—

(a) service in a police force in England and Wales or a police force in Scotland on which a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (other than the Chief Constable) is engaged with the consent of the Secretary of State and the Chief Constable;

(b) temporary service with the National Criminal Intelligence Service on which a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (other than the Chief Constable) is engaged with the consent of the Chief Constable; or

(c) temporary service with the Police Information Technology Organisation on which a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (other than the Chief Constable) is engaged with the consent of the Chief Constable.

(2) Subject to the following provisions of this section, a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary engaged on relevant service shall be treated as if he were not a member of that Constabulary during that service; but, except where a pension, allowance or gratuity becomes payable to him by virtue of regulations under section 25—

(a) he shall be entitled at the end of the period of relevant service to revert to that Constabulary in the rank in which he was serving immediately before that period began; and

(b) he shall be treated as if he had been serving in that Constabulary during the period of relevant service for the purpose of any scale prescribed by or under regulations made under section 25 fixing his rate of pay by reference to his length of service.

(3) A member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary may, when engaged on relevant service, be promoted in that Constabulary, as if he were serving in it; and in any such case—

(a) the reference in paragraph (a) of subsection (2) to the rank in which he was serving immediately before the period of relevant service began shall be construed as a reference to the rank to which he is promoted; and

(b) for the purposes mentioned in paragraph (b) of that subsection he shall be treated as having served in that rank from the time of his promotion.

(4) A member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary who—

(a) while engaged on relevant service within subsection (1)(a), is dismissed from that service or is required to resign as an alternative to dismissal, or

(b) has completed a period of relevant service within subsection (1)(b) or (c),

may be dealt with under regulations under section 25(3) for anything done or omitted while he was engaged on that service as if that service had been service in the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

(5) For the purposes of subsection (4)(a), a certificate certifying that a person has been dismissed, or required to resign as an alternative to dismissal, shall be evidence of the fact so certified if it is given by or on behalf of the chief officer of the police force in which that person was engaged in relevant service.

(6) A member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary engaged on relevant service within subsection (1)(b) or (c)—

(a) shall continue to be a constable; and

(b) shall be treated for the purposes of—

(i) section 17 of this Act; and

(ii) sections 2 and 8 of the Constabulary and Police (Ireland) Act 1919,

as if he were a member of that Constabulary.”.

131 Regulations requiring use of specified facilities or services

In the [1970 c. 9 (N.I.).] Police Act (Northern Ireland) 1970 at the end of section 27 (regulations as to standards of equipment) (which becomes subsection (1)) there shall be added—

“(2) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for requiring the police force to use specified facilities or services, or facilities or services of a specified description, if he considers that it would be in the interests of the efficiency and effectiveness of the police force for it to do so.

(3) The Secretary of State shall consult the Police Information Technology Organisation before making regulations under this section relating to information technology.

(4) In subsection (3) “information technology” includes any computer or other technology by means of which information or other matter may be recorded or communicated without being reduced to documentary form.”.

132 Expenditure by Secretary of State for police purposes

After section 31 of the [1970 c. 9 (N.I.).] Police Act (Northern Ireland) 1970 there shall be inserted—

“31A Expenditure by Secretary of State for police purposes

The Secretary of State may—

(a) make such contribution to the provision or maintenance of such organisations, facilities and services; and

(b) make such other payments,

as he thinks necessary or expedient for promoting the efficiency and effectiveness of the police force.”.

Rehabilitation of Offenders

133 Rehabilitation of Offenders

The following provisions (which restrict the effect of the [1974 c. 53.] Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the [S.I. 1978/1908 (N.I. 27).] Rehabilitation of Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1978) shall cease to have effect—

(a) section 189 of, and Schedule 14 to, the [1986 c. 60.] Financial Services Act 1986;

(b) section 95 of the [1987 c. 22.] Banking Act 1987;

(c) section 39 of the [1993 c. 21.] Osteopaths Act 1993;

(d) section 19 of the [1993 c. 39.] National Lottery etc. Act 1993;

(e) section 40 of the [1994 c. 17.] Chiropractors Act 1994.

Part VII General

134 Amendments and repeals

(1) Schedule 9 (minor and consequential amendments) shall have effect.

(2) The enactments mentioned in Schedule 10 are hereby repealed to the extent specified in the third column of that Schedule.

135 Commencement

(1) The preceding provisions of this Act shall come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument appoint.

(2) An order under this section may—

(a) appoint different days for different purposes or different areas, and

(b) make transitional provision and savings (including provision modifying this Act).

(3) An order under this section may, in relation to Part I, II or IV make provision—

(a) for the transfer and apportionment of property and for the transfer, apportionment and creation of rights and liabilities;

(b) for the transfer of members of police forces in Great Britain, members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and other persons;

(c) for the Secretary of State, or any other person nominated by or in accordance with the order, to determine any matter requiring determination under or in consequence of the order;

(d) as to the payment of fees charged, or expenses incurred, by any person nominated to determine any matter by virtue of paragraph (c).

(4) Any day appointed by an order under this section for the coming into force of section 93, 94 or 95 of this Act shall not be earlier than the day on which a code of practice issued under section 101 comes into operation.

(5) A statutory instrument containing provisions made by virtue of subsection (2)(b) or (3) shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

136 Police: co-operation on implementation

It shall be the duty of police authorities for areas in Great Britain, and the Police Authority for Northern Ireland, and their staff to co-operate with each other, and generally to exercise their functions, so as to facilitate the implementation of Parts I and II of this Act and any transfer of property or staff made by an order under section 135.

137 Extent

(1) Subject to subsections (2) to (4), this Act extends throughout the United Kingdom.

(2) The following provisions of this Act extend to England and Wales only—

(a) Part II;

(b) Part III of Schedule 1;

(c) Parts I and IV of Schedule 1, and Schedule 2, so far as they relate to the Service Authority for the National Crime Squad;

(d) Schedule 5;

(e) sections 128 and 129.

(3) Sections 130 to 132 extend to Northern Ireland only.

(4) The amendments in Schedules 6 and 9, and the repeals in Schedule 10, have the same extent as the enactments to which they refer.

138 Short title

This Act may be cited as the Police Act 1997.