This Order is made under section 32(3) and (5) of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967, as substituted by section 45(1) of the Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Act 1997, which makes provision for the Scottish Ministers to make grants out of money from the Scottish Consolidated Fund for police purposes to police authorities and joint police boards.

This Order determines– a the aggregate amount of grants to be made under section 32(1) to all police authorities and joint police boards for the financial year 2002–2003 (article 2); and b the amount of such grants to be made to each police authority or joint police board (article 3).

The Order also sets out how and when the grant is payable (article 4).