The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Commencement No. 1, Transitional, Transitory and Saving Provisions) Order 2012
Citation, commencement and interpretation1.
(1)
This Order may be cited as the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Commencement No. 1, Transitional, Transitory and Saving Provisions) Order 2012 and comes into force on 1st October 2012.
(2)
In this Order—
“the 2012 Act” means the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012.
Appointed day2.
(1)
1st October 2012 is the day appointed for the coming into force of the provisions of the 2012 Act specified in column 1 of the Schedule to this Order (the subject-matter of which is described in column 2 of the Schedule).
(2)
Where a purpose is specified in column 3 of the Schedule in relation to any provision, that provision comes into force on 1st October 2012 for that purpose only.
Transitional: annual police plans3.
Section 35(1) of the 2012 Act (annual police plans) does not apply in respect of any yearly period which begins before 1st April 2013.
Transitory: strategic police plan4.
(1)
This article has effect until the day on which section 71 of the 2012 Act (Her Majesty’s inspectors of constabulary in Scotland) comes into force.
(2)
Transitory: examinations by Auditor General5.
(1)
This article has effect until the day on which section 6 of the 2012 Act (the Police Service of Scotland) comes into force.
(2)
Section 42(4) of the 2012 Act (examination of Police Service by Auditor General) is modified as follows—
(a)
in paragraph (a), omit “or the Police Service”; and
(b)
in paragraph (b), after “resources” insert “the chief constable considers will be”.
Transitory: consultation requirements6.
(1)
This article has effect until the day on which paragraph 33(11) of schedule 7 to the 2012 Act (interpretation) comes into force.
(2)
For the purposes of section 66 of the 2012 Act (investigations: procedure), the following terms in the section inserted by that section have the following meanings—
“chief constable” means the chief constable appointed under section 7 of the 2012 Act;
“senior officers” means chief constables, deputy chief constables and assistant chief constables of police forces established under the Police (Scotland) Act 1967;
“superintendents” and “chief superintendents” mean superintendents and chief superintendents of police forces established under the Police (Scotland) Act 1967; and
“the Authority” means the Scottish Police Authority.
Transitory saving: fire and rescue authorities’ current framework document7.
(1)
This article has effect until the day on which the repeal of section 42 of the 2005 Act (reporting) by schedule 8 to the 2012 Act comes into force.
(2)
Despite the amendments made by paragraph 68(15) and (16) of schedule 7 to the 2012 Act—
(a)
(b)
sections 41(1), (2), (4), (5) and (6) of the 2005 Act (adherence) continue to have effect on and after 1st October 2012 as they had effect before that date, but only in relation to—
(i)
the framework document mentioned in paragraph (a); and
(ii)
any order made under section 41(4) of the 2005 Act before 1st October 2012.
Transitory: SFRS’s first strategic plan8.
(1)
Paragraphs (2) and (3) have effect until the day on which the amendments made by paragraph 68(20) of schedule 7 to the 2012 Act come into force (interpretation).
(2)
For the purposes of section 114 of the 2012 Act (strategic plan), in relation to the insertion of section 41A into the 2005 Act (SFRS’s first strategic plan), the reference in section 41A(4)(a) to the framework document is construed as a reference to the document prepared under, and having effect by virtue of, section 40 of the 2005 Act as amended by paragraph 68(15) of schedule 7 to the 2012 Act (SFRS framework document).
(3)
For the purposes of paragraph 68(16) of schedule 7 to the 2012 Act (adherence to framework document), in relation to the amendments made to section 41 of the 2005 Act, the references in those amendments to the framework document are construed as references to the document prepared under, and having effect by virtue of, section 40 of the 2005 Act as amended by paragraph 68(15) of schedule 7 to the 2012 Act (SFRS framework document).
St Andrew’s House,
Edinburgh
SCHEDULE
Column 1 Provisions of the Act | Column 2 Subject-matter | Column 3 Purpose |
|---|---|---|
Section 5 | Directions | |
Section 11(1) to (4) | Ranks | |
Section 15(1) | Temporary service outwith the Police Service of Scotland | For the purpose of making regulations under section 15(3) of the 2012 Act |
Section 15(3) and (4) | Temporary service outwith the Police Service of Scotland | |
Section 17(2)(c) | Chief constable’s responsibility for the policing of Scotland | For the purpose of being involved in the preparation of the strategic police plan. |
Section 17(2)(d) | Chief constable’s responsibility for the policing of Scotland | |
Section 24(1), (2)(a), (3) to (5) | Liability for unlawful conduct | |
Sections 26 and 27 | Police staff; terms and conditions of police staff | |
Section 32, 33, 34(1) to (7), 35 and 36 | Policing principles; Strategic police priorities; Strategic police plan; Annual police plans; Planning functions: considerations | |
Section 41 | Audit | |
Section 42(1)(b) and (2) to (7) | Examinations by Auditor General | |
Section 43 | Examinations of Scottish Police Authority by Auditor General | |
Sections 48 to 55 | Governance and administration of police; appointments, promotions etc.; conditions of service; regulations: duties; disciplinary procedures: conduct and performance; personal records; consultation on regulations; regulations: supplementary | |
Section 56(3) | Right to appeal to police appeals tribunal | |
Section 64 | Serious incidents involving the police | |
Section 66 | Investigations: procedure etc. | |
Section 87 | Provision of other goods and services | For the purpose of making orders under section 87(1)(b) and (3)(b) of the 2012 Act |
Section 98(1) to (3) | Provision of information and assistance | |
Section 98(5) | Transfer of constables, staff and property etc. | |
Section 114 | Strategic plan | For the purpose of inserting section 41A into the 2005 Act |
Section 118 | Directions by Scottish Ministers | |
Section 121 | Transfer of staff, property etc. | |
Section 122(1) and (2) | Provision of information and assistance | |
Section 128(1) | Minor and consequential amendments | For the purpose of commencing paragraphs 61, 62, 63(b), 65, 68(15) and (16), and 72(1), (2) and (3)(b) of schedule 7 of the 2012 Act |
Schedule 3 | Police Appeals Tribunal | |
Schedule 5 | Transfer of constables, staff and property etc. | |
Schedule 6 | Transfer of staff, property etc. | |
Schedule 7, paragraphs 61, 62, 63(b) and 65 | Consequential amendments | |
Schedule 7, paragraph 68(15) and (16) | Consequential amendments | |
Schedule 7, paragraph 72(1), (2) and (3)(b) | Consequential amendments |
This Order brings into force the following provisions of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (“the 2012 Act”) on 1st October 2012: sections 5; 11(1) to (4); 15(1) (3) and (4); 17(2)(c) and (2)(d); 24(1), (2)(a), (3) to (5); 26; 27; 32; 33; 34(1) to (7); 35; 36; 41; 42(1)(b) and (2) to (7); 43; 48 to 55; 56(3); 64; 66; 87; 98(1) to (3) and (5); 114; 118; 121; 122(1) and (2); 128(1); schedules 3, 5 and 6; paragraphs 61, 62, 63(b), 65, 68(15) and (16) and 72(1), (2) and (3)(b) of schedule 7.
Article 2 appoints 1st October 2012 as the day for the coming into force of the provisions mentioned in the Schedule to the Order. Some are partially commenced for restricted purposes only.
Article 3 makes transitional provision so that the first annual police plan is made in respect of the year from April 2013, removing the obligation to have a police plan in respect of the part-year period from commencement of this Order to 1st April 2013.
Article 4 makes transitory provision for the period between coming into force of this Order and the commencement of the provisions of the 2012 Act about inspectors of constabulary. It provides that the obligation on the Scottish Police Authority to send a copy of the draft strategic police plan to the inspectors of constabulary is to those inspectors as they exist under the current law.
Article 5 makes transitory provision for the period between the coming into force of this Order and the establishment of the Police Service of Scotland by the commencement of section 6 of the 2012 Act. It modifies section 42(4) of the 2012 Act in respect of that period, so that any examinations by the Auditor General of the best value arrangements being made by the chief constable cannot question the chief constable’s policy objectives but can examine the criteria used to assess the use of resources the chief constable expects will be available for use by the Police Service.
Article 6 makes transitory provision for the period between coming into force of this Order and the commencement of the amendments to the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006. Those amendments contain definitions and until they are commenced definitional provision is necessary to allow the new section 41D of that Act (which is commenced by this Order) to operate.
Article 7 makes a transitory saving provision for the period between coming into force of this Order and the commencement of the repeal of section 42 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005. The effect of the provision is to save the current fire framework document provisions so that they continue to apply until the current fire and rescue authorities are abolished. The commencement of the amendments in paragraph 68(15) and (16) of schedule 7 to the 2012 Act have the effect of creating new fire framework document provisions applying to the SFRS. The two sets of fire framework document provisions will operate until the current fire and rescue authorities are abolished (which is intended to be at the same point the repeal of section 42 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 is commenced).
Article 8 makes transitory provision for the period between coming into force of this Order and the commencement of amendments to the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 which insert definitional provision into that Act. The provision ensures that references to the framework document are defined and they refer to the framework document made in relation to the SFRS rather than the current fire and rescue authorities.
The Bill for the 2012 Act received Royal Assent on 7th August 2012. Section 129(1) of the 2012 Act brought into force sections 1 (and schedule 1), 2(1)(c), (2) and (3), 4, 7, 37, 38, 40(1), (3) and (4), 84(1), (2)(a) and (10), 88, 89, 98(4) (and schedule 4), 99, 101(1) (but only for the purpose of inserting section 1A(1) and (3) into the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005) and (2), 113, 117, 122(3) and (4) and 123 and Part 3 (other than section 128) on the day after Royal Assent.