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Police Act 1996
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Changes over time for: Section 32
Alternative versions:
- 22/08/1996- Amendment
- 04/01/2000- Amendment
- Stop date 01/04/2000- Amendment
- 03/07/2000- Amendment
- 25/04/2012- Amendment
Changes to legislation:
Police Act 1996, Section 32 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 26 December 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
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Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 32:
- Sch. 4A para. 2(2)(ia) inserted by 2024 c. 21 s. 24(2)
- Sch. 4A para. 5(7)(8) inserted by 2024 c. 21 s. 24(3)
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
- Sch. 4A para. 2(2)(ia) inserted by 2024 c. 21 s. 24(2)
- Sch. 4A para. 5(7)(8) inserted by 2024 c. 21 s. 24(3)
32 Power to alter police areas by order.E+W
(1)The Secretary of State may by order make alterations in police areas in England and Wales other than the City of London police area.
(2)The alterations that may be made by an order under 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.
(3)The Secretary of State shall not exercise his power under this section to make alterations unless either—
(a)he has received a request to make the alterations from the [F1local policing body] for each of the areas F2... affected by them, or
(b)it appears to him to be expedient to make the alterations in the interests of efficiency or effectiveness.
(4)The Secretary of State shall exercise his power to make orders under this section in such a way as to ensure that [F3no police area falls partly in England and partly in Walesand that ] none of the following areas—
(a)a county in which there are no district councils,
(b)a district in any other county,
(c)a county borough in Wales, and
(d)a London borough,
is divided between two or more police areas.
F4(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 32(3)(a) substituted (25.4.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 10 para. 5(2); S.I. 2012/1129, art. 2(g)
F2Words in s. 32(3)(a) repealed (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, ss. 325, 423, Sch. 27 para. 84(2), Sch. 34 Pt. VII (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/1648, art. 2, Sch.
F3Words in s. 32(4) inserted (25.4.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 10 para. 5(3); S.I. 2012/1129, art. 2(g)
F4S. 32(5) repealed (1.4.2000) by 1999 c. 29, ss. 325, 423, Sch. 27 para. 84(3) Sch. 34 Pt. VII (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 1999/3271, art. 4(b)(c)(d)
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