(1)The chief officer of police of any police force may, on the application of the chief officer of police of any other police force, provide constables or other assistance for the purpose of enabling the other force to meet any special demand on its resources.
(2)If it appears to the Secretary of State to be expedient in the interests of public safety or order that any police force should be reinforced or should receive other assistance for the purpose of enabling it to meet any special demand on its resources, and that satisfactory arrangements under subsection (1) cannot be made, or cannot be made in time, he may direct the chief officer of police of any police force to provide such constables or other assistance for that purpose as may be specified in the direction.
(3)While a constable is provided under this section for the assistance of another police force he shall, notwithstanding [F1sections 9A(1) and 10(1)], be under the direction and control of the chief officer of police of that other force.
[F2(3A)While a person employed by a police authority under section 15 solely to assist the police force maintained by that authority is provided under this section for the assistance of another police force, he shall, notwithstanding section 15(2), be under the direction and control of the chief officer of police of that other force.]
(4)The police authority maintaining a police force for which assistance is provided under this section shall pay to the police authority maintaining the force from which that assistance is provided such contribution as may be agreed upon between those authorities or, in the absence of any such agreement, as may be provided by any agreement subsisting at the time between all police authorities generally, or, in the absence of such general agreement, as may be determined by the Secretary of State.
[F3(4A)This section shall apply in relation to the British Transport Police Authority, the British Transport Police Force and the Chief Constable of that Force as it applies to a police authority, a police force and a chief officer of police respectively; and for that purpose the reference in subsection (3) to section 10(1) shall be construed as including a reference to section 24(2) of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003.]
F4(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 24(3) substituted (1.4.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), s. 53(1), Sch. 2 para. 22; S.I. 2007/709, art. 3(c) (with art. 6)
F2S. 24(3A) inserted (1.4.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), s. 53(1), Sch. 2 para. 17; S.I. 2007/709, art. 3(c) (with art. 6)
F3S. 24(4A) substituted (1.7.2004) by The British Transport Police (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1573), arts. 1, 12(4)(b)
F4S. 24(5) repealed (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 70, Sch. 17 Pt. 2; S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. paras. 10, 13(y)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 24 amended (1.7.2004) by Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (c. 20), Sch. 5 para. 4; S.I. 2004/1572, art. 3(jjj)