Police Act 1996 (c. 16)

Part I E+W+S Organisation of Police Forces

[F1 The metropolitan police and forces outside London] E+W+S

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 5A-5C and headings inserted (1.1.2000 for specified purposes and otherwise on the "operative date" (as defined in art. 1(2)(c) of S.I. 2000/1095) for specified purposes and on 3.7.2000 for all other purposes) by 1999 c. 29, s. 310(1) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 1999/3271, art. 3(a); S.I. 2000/1095, arts. 4-6

6 General functions of police authorities. E+W

(1) Every police authority established under section 3

(a) F2 shall secure the maintenance of an efficient and effective police force for its area[F3 , and

(b) shall hold the chief officer of police of that force to account for the exercise of his functions and those of persons under his direction and control.]

(2) In discharging its functions, every police authority established under section 3 shall have regard to—

(a) any [F4 strategic priorities determined by the Secretary of State under section 37A],

(b) any objectives determined by the authority [F5 by virtue of section 6ZB ] ,

(c) any performance targets established by the authority, whether in compliance with a direction under section 38 or otherwise, and

[F6 (d) any plan issued by the authority by virtue of section 6ZB.]

(3) In discharging any function to which a code of practice issued under section 39 relates, a police authority established under section 3 shall have regard to the code.

F7 (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F8 (5) This section shall apply in relation to the Metropolitan Police Authority as it applies in relation to a police authority established under section 3]

Textual Amendments

F2 S. 6(1)(a): s. 6(1) renumbered as s. 6(1)(a) (29.6.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), s. 53(1), Sch. 2 para. 7(2)(a); S.I. 2007/1614, art. 2(b)

F3 S. 6(1)(b) and word inserted (29.6.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), s. 53(1), Sch. 2 para. 7(2)(b); S.I. 2007/1614, art. 2(b)

F4 Words in s. 6(2)(a) substituted (8.11.2006) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), s. 53(2), Sch. 2 para. 7(3)(a)

F5 Words in s. 6(2)(b) substituted (1.4.2008) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), s. 53(1), Sch. 2 para. 7(3)(b); S.I. 2008/790, art. 2(b)

F6 S. 6(2)(d) substituted (1.4.2008) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), s. 53(1), Sch. 2 para. 7(3)(c); S.I. 2008/790, art. 2(b)

F7 S. 6(4) repealed (1.4.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), s. 53(1), Sch. 2 para. 7(4), Sch. 15 Pt. 1(B); S.I. 2007/709, art. 3(r)(i) (with art. 6)

F8 S. 6(5) inserted (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 311 (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/1648, art. 2, Sch