(1)Every chief constable shall, as soon as possible after the end of each financial year, submit to the police authority a general report on the policing during that year of the area for which his force is maintained.
(2)A chief constable shall arrange for a report submitted by him under subsection (1) to be published in such manner as appears to him to be appropriate.
(3)The chief constable of a police force shall, whenever so required by the police authority, submit to that authority a report on such matters as may be specified in the requirement, being matters connected with the policing of the area for which the force is maintained.
(4)A report submitted under subsection (3) shall be in such form as the police authority may specify.
(5)If it appears to the chief constable that a report in compliance with subsection (3) 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 request that authority to refer the requirement to submit the report 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.
(6)The police authority may arrange, or require the chief constable to arrange, for a report submitted under subsection (3) to be published in such manner as appears to the authority to be appropriate.
(7)This section shall apply in relation to the City of London police force as if for references to a chief constable there were substituted references to the Commissioner.