Part 10Police Powers

MoD and transport police

I1100 Jurisdiction of transport police

1

Where a member of the British Transport Police Force has been requested by a constable of—

a

the police force for any police area,

b

the Ministry of Defence Police, or

c

the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary,

(“the requesting force”) to assist him in the execution of his duties in relation to a particular incident, investigation or operation, members of the British Transport Police Force have for the purposes of that incident, investigation or operation the same powers and privileges as constables of the requesting force.

2

Members of the British Transport Police Force have in any police area the same powers and privileges as constables of the police force for that police area—

a

in relation to persons whom they suspect on reasonable grounds of having committed, being in the course of committing or being about to commit an offence, or

b

if they believe on reasonable grounds that they need those powers and privileges in order to save life or to prevent or minimise personal injury.

3

But members of the British Transport Police Force have powers and privileges by virtue of subsection (2) only if—

a

they are in uniform or have with them documentary evidence that they are members of that Force, and

b

they believe on reasonable grounds that a power of a constable which they would not have apart from that subsection ought to be exercised and that, if it cannot be exercised until they secure the attendance of or a request under subsection (1) by a constable who has it, the purpose for which they believe it ought to be exercised will be frustrated or seriously prejudiced.

4

In this section—

  • “British Transport Police Force” means the constables appointed under section 53 of the British Transport Commission Act 1949 (c. xxix), and

  • “United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary” means the special constables appointed under section 3 of the Special Constables Act 1923 (c. 11) on the nomination of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.