http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1964/48/section/21Police Act 1964An Act to re-enact with modifications certain enactments relating to police forces in England and Wales, to amend the Police (Scotland) Act 1956, and to make further provision with respect to the police.1979-05-31texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2019-02-13Expert Participation2017-04-06 Part I211The Secretary of State may by order make alterations in police areas in England and Wales other than the City of London police area.2The alterations that may be made by an order under subsection (1) of this section include alterations that result in a reduction or an increase in the number of police areas, but not alterations that result in the abolition of the metropolitan police district.3The Secretary of State shall not exercise his power under subsection (1) of this section to make alterations unless either—ahe has received a request to make the alterations from the police authority for each of the areas (other than the metropolitan police district) affected by them, orbit appears to him to be expedient to make the alterations in the interests of efficiency or effectiveness.4The Secretary of State shall exercise his power to make orders under this section in such a way as to ensure that none of the following areas—aa county in which there are no district councils,ba district in any other county,ca county borough in Wales, andda London borough,is divided between two or more police areas.5Subsection (4) shall not have effect so as to prevent the maintenance of any part of the boundary of the metropolitan police district as it exists at the commencement of section 1 of the Police and Magistrates’ Courts Act 1994.Pt. I(ss. 1-27) restricted (6.3.1992) by Local Government Act 1992 (c. 19), s. 18(4)(a)Ss. 21, 21A-21C substituted for s. 21 (1.10.1994 in so far as substitutes 21A and 21C and 1.4.1995 otherwise) by 1994 c. 29, s. 14; S.I. 1994/2025, art. 6; S.I. 1994/3262, art. 4, Sch.