Police Act 1996

Central services E+W

57 Common services. E+W

(1) The Secretary of State may provide and maintain, or may contribute to the provision or maintenance of, such organisations, facilities and services as he considers necessary or expedient for promoting the efficiency or effectiveness of the police.

[F1 (1A) The power conferred by subsection (1) includes power to give financial assistance to any person in connection with the provision or maintenance of such organisations, facilities and services as are mentioned in that subsection.

(1B) Financial assistance under subsection (1)—

(a) may, in particular, be given in the form of a grant, loan or guarantee or investment in a body corporate; and

(b) may be given subject to terms and conditions determined by the Secretary of State;

but any financial assistance under that subsection other than a grant requires the consent of the Treasury.

(1C) Terms and conditions imposed under subsection (1B)(b) may include terms and conditions as to repayment with or without interest.

(1D) Any sums received by the Secretary of State by virtue of terms and conditions imposed under that subsection are to be paid into the Consolidated Fund.]

(2) Charges may be made for the use of facilities and services provided by the Secretary of State (or by organisations provided or maintained by him) under subsection (1).

(3) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for requiring [F2 one or more police forces] to use specified facilities or services, or facilities or services of a specified description, (whether or not provided under subsection (1)) if he considers that it would be in the interests of the efficiency or effectiveness of the police for them to do so.

[F3 (3A) Regulations under this section relating to all police forces may also require the [F4 National Crime Agency] to use the specified facilities or services, or the facilities or services of a specified description, if the Secretary of State considers that it would be in the interests of the efficiency or effectiveness of the [F5 Agency for the Agency] to do so.]

(4) Before making regulations under this section, the Secretary of State shall consult—

[F6 (a) such persons as appear to the Secretary of State to represent the views of police and crime commissioners,

(aa) the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime,

(ab) the Common Council,]

(b) [F7 the National Police Chiefs' Council]; and

[F8 (c) if the regulations relate to the [F9 National Crime Agency], that Agency.]

F10 (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F10 (6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 57(1A)-(1D) inserted (8.5.2008) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 128(1), 153(1)(c) (with s. 128(2))

F2 Words in s. 57(3) substituted (29.1.2010) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), ss. 13, 116(1); S.I. 2010/125, art. 2(d)

F3 S. 57(3A) inserted (1.4.1998) by 1997 c. 50, s. 134(1), Sch. 9 para. 78(2); S.I. 1998/354, art. 2(2)(ay)

F4 Words in s. 57(3A) substituted (7.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(2), Sch. 8 para. 39; S.I. 2013/1682, art. 3(v)

F5 Words in s. 57(3A) substituted (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 73(2)(b); S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. para. 10

F6 S. 57(4)(a)-(ab) substituted for s. 57(4)(a) (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 36(2); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1 (with Sch. 2 para. 15)

F7 Words in s. 57(4)(b) substituted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 3.4.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), s. 183(1)(5)(e), Sch. 14 paras. 6, 7(c); S.I. 2017/399, reg. 2, Sch. para. 41

F8 S. 57(4)(c) substituted (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 73(3); S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. para. 10

F9 Words in s. 57(4)(c) substituted (7.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(2), Sch. 8 para. 39; S.I. 2013/1682, art. 3(v)

F10 S. 57(5)(6) omitted (22.11.2012) by virtue of Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 36(3); S.I. 2012/2892, art. 2(i)

58 Research. E+W

The Secretary of State may set up such bodies and take such other steps as appear to him to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of undertaking research into matters affecting the efficiency or effectiveness of the police.