The chief constable of a police force shall before 31st F1July in each year submit to the police authority a F2report in writing on such matters as the Secretary of State may prescribe as respects, and generally as respects, the policing, during the F3twelve months ending on 31st March in that year, of the area for which the force is maintained, and shall send a copy of the report to each of the other authorities specified in subsection (3) of this section.

Subject to the following provisions of this section, the chief constable of a police force shall, whenever required by any of the authorities specified in subsection (3) of this section, submit to that authority a report on such matters as may be so required, being matters connected with the policing of the area for which the force is maintained.

The authorities referred to in subsections (1) and (2) of this section are—

• the Secretary of State,

• the F4sheriff principal having jurisdiction in any part of the area . . . F5

• the police authority.

If it appears to the chief constable that a report in compliance with a requirement made by the police authority in pursuance of subsection (2) of this section would contain information which in the public interest ought not to be disclosed, or is not needed for the discharge of the functions of the police authority, he may, after consultation with the police authority, refer the requirement to the Secretary of State; and in any such case the requirement shall be of no effect unless it is confirmed by the Secretary of State.

Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this section shall require a chief constable to submit . . . F5 to any F4sheriff principal a report on matters which are not connected with the policing, . . . F5 of places in which the F4sheriff principal has jurisdiction.

In this section F4sheriff principal does not include a F4sheriff.