(1)Subsection (2) applies if—
(a)the chief officer of a police force in the British Islands or of a special police force, or
(b)a law enforcement agency operating in the British Islands,
notifies the Director General of SOCA that that force or agency has a special need for assistance from SOCA and requests the Director General of SOCA to provide it with such assistance.
(2)In such a case the Director General of SOCA may provide that force or agency with—
(a)such members of the staff of SOCA, or
(b)such other assistance,
as the Director General of SOCA considers appropriate in the circumstances.
(3)Subsection (4) applies if the Director General of SOCA notifies—
(a)the chief officer of a police force in the United Kingdom or of a special police force, or
(b)a law enforcement agency operating in the United Kingdom,
that SOCA has a special need for assistance from that force or agency and requests it to provide SOCA with such assistance.
(4)In such a case the chief officer of that force or the agency in question may provide SOCA with—
(a)such constables or members of the staff of the agency, or
(b)such other assistance,
as the chief officer or the agency considers appropriate in the circumstances.
F1(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(6)Where a member of the staff of SOCA is provided under this section for the assistance of a police force, a special police force or a law enforcement agency, he shall be under the direction and control of the chief officer of the force or the head of the agency (as the case may be).
(7)Where—
(a)a constable,
F2(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(c)a member of the staff of a law enforcement agency,
is provided under this section for the assistance of SOCA, he shall be under the direction and control of the Director General of SOCA (despite anything in, or in any agreement made under, any other enactment).
(8)Where SOCA provides assistance under this section for—
(a)a police force in the United Kingdom or a special police force, or
(b)a law enforcement agency operating in the United Kingdom,
the [F3relevant policing body] or (as the case may be) that agency must pay to SOCA such contribution, if any, as may be agreed between them or, in the absence of agreement, as may be determined by the Secretary of State.
(9)Where SOCA is provided with assistance under this section by—
(a)a police force in the United Kingdom or a special police force, or
(b)a law enforcement agency operating in the United Kingdom,
SOCA must pay to the [F3relevant policing body] or (as the case may be) that agency such contribution, if any, as may be agreed between them or, in the absence of agreement, as may be determined by the Secretary of State.
(10)If the assistance mentioned in subsection (8) or (9) is provided for or (as the case may be) by—
[F4(a)the Police Service of Scotland, or]
(c)the Scottish Administration,
the Secretary of State must, before making a determination under the subsection in question, consult the Scottish Ministers.
[F5(10A)If the assistance mentioned in subsection (8) or (9) is provided for or (as the case may be) by—
(a)the Police Service of Northern Ireland, or
(b)the Police Service of Northern Ireland Reserve,
the Secretary of State must, before making a determination under the subsection in question, consult the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland.]
(11)In this section—
“law enforcement agency” has the meaning given by section 3(4) (subject to any territorial restrictions contained in this section);
“police force”, in relation to the British Islands, includes the States of Jersey Police Force, the salaried police force of the Island of Guernsey and the Isle of Man Constabulary;
F6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“[F7relevant policing body]” means—
[F8in relation to a police force in England or Wales, the local policing body maintaining that force,]
[F9in relation to the Police Service of Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority,]
in relation to the Police Service of Northern Ireland or the Police Service of Northern Ireland Reserve, the Northern Ireland Policing Board,
in relation to the Ministry of Defence Police, the Secretary of State,
in relation to the British Transport Police Force, the British Transport Police Authority,
in relation to the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, the Civil Nuclear Police Authority, and
F10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F1S. 23(5) omitted (1.4.2013) by virtue of The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/602), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 48(6)(a)
F2S. 23(7)(b) omitted (1.4.2013) by virtue of The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/602), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 48(6)(a)
F3Words in s. 23(8)(9) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 347(2); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1
F4S. 23(10)(a) substituted for s. 23(10)(a)(b) (1.4.2013) by The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/602), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 48(6)(b)
F5S. 23(10A) inserted (12.4.2010) by The Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/976), art. 1(2), Sch. 15 para. 12 (with arts. 28-31)
F6Words in s. 23(11) omitted (1.4.2013) by virtue of The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/602), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 48(6)(c)(i)
F7Words in s. 23(11) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 347(3)(a); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1
F8Words in s. 23(11) inserted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 347(3)(b); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1
F9Words in s. 23(11) substituted (1.4.2013) by The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/602), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 48(6)(c)(ii)(aa)
F10Words in s. 23(11) omitted (1.4.2013) by virtue of The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/602), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 48(6)(c)(ii)(bb)
Commencement Information
I1S. 23 in force at 1.4.2006 by S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. para. 4 (with art. 4(2)-(7))