Police Act 1997

120 Registered persons. E+W+N.I.

(1) For the purposes of this Part a registered person is a person who is listed in a register to be maintained by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Part.

[F1 (2) [F2 Subject to regulations under section 120ZA and 120AA and to section 120A the] [F2 The] Secretary of State shall include in the register any person who—

(a) applies to him in writing to be registered, [F3 and]

(b) satisfies the conditions in subsections (4) to (6), [F4 and

(c) has not in the period of two years ending with the date of the application been removed from the register under section 120A or 120AA.]]

[F5 (2A) Subsection (2) is subject to—

(a) regulations under section 120ZA,

(b) section 120A, and

(c) section 120AA and regulations made under that section.]

F6 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) A person applying for registration under this section must be—

(a) a body corporate or unincorporate,

(b) a person [F7 who is] appointed to an office by virtue of any enactment [F8 and who, in the case of an individual, is aged 18 or over], or

(c) an individual [F9 aged 18 or over] who employs others in the course of a business.

(5) A body applying for registration under this section must satisfy the Secretary of State that it—

(a) is likely to ask exempted questions, or

(b) is likely to [F10 countersign] [F10 act as the registered person in relation to] applications under section [F11 113A or 113B] at the request of bodies or individuals asking exempted questions.

(6) A person, other than a body, applying for registration under this section must satisfy the Secretary of State that he is likely to ask exempted questions.

(7) In this section “exempted question” has the same meaning as in section [F12 113A].

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 120(2) substituted (6.4.2006 for E.W., 3.12.2007 for N.I.) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(3)(4), Sch. 35 para. 6(2); S.I. 2006/751, art. 2(c)(ii); S.I. 2007/3340, art. 2(b)

F2 Word in s. 120(2) substituted (E.W.)(10.9.2012 immediately after the coming into force of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2157)) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), s. 120, Sch. 9 para. 112(2)(a) (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2234, art. 2(aa)(x)

F3 Word in s. 120(2)(a) inserted (E.W.) (10.9.2012 immediately after the coming into force of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2157)) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), s. 120, Sch. 9 para. 112(2)(b) (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2234, art. 2(aa)(x)

F4 S. 120(2)(c) and word repealed (E.W.) (10.9.2012 immediately after the coming into force of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2157)) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), s. 120, Sch. 9 para. 112(2)(c), Sch. 10 Pt. 6 (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2234, art. 2(aa)(cc)(x)

F5 S. 120(2A) inserted (E.W.) (10.9.2012 immediately after the coming into force of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2157)) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), s. 120, Sch. 9 para. 112(3) (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2234, art. 2(aa)(x)

F6 S. 120(3) repealed (29.1.2004 for E.W., 3.12.2007 for N.I.) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(3)(4), Sch. 35 para. 6(3), Sch. 37 Pt. 11; S.I. 2004/81, art. 4(1)(2)(p); S.I. 2007/3340, art. 2(b)

F7 Words in s. 120(4)(b) inserted (E.W.) (10.9.2012 immediately after the coming into force of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2157)) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), ss. 80(2)(a)(i), 120 (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2234, art. 2(s) (with art. 5)

F8 Words in s. 120(4)(b) inserted (E.W.) (10.9.2012 immediately after the coming into force of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2157)) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), ss. 80(2)(a)(ii), 120 (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2234, art. 2(s) (with art. 5)

F9 Words in s. 120(4)(c) inserted (E.W.) (10.9.2012 immediately after the coming into force of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2157)) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), ss. 80(2)(b), 120 (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2234, art. 2(s) (with art. 5)

F10 Words in s. 120(5)(b) substituted (E.W.) (2.3.2009) by The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Electronic Communications) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/203), arts. 1(1), 5

F11 Words in s. 120(5)(b) substituted (1.4.2006 for S., 6.4.2006 for E.W., 3.12.2007 for N.I.) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(4)(e)(8), Sch. 14 para. 6(b); S.S.I. 2006/166, art. 2(1)(e); S.I. 2006/378, art. 7(c); S.I. 2007/3341, art. 2(d)

F12 Word in s. 120(7) substituted (1.4.2006 for S., 6.4.2006 for E.W., 3.12.2007 for N.I.) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(4)(e)(8), Sch. 14 para. 6(c); S.S.I. 2006/166, art. 2(1)(e); S.I. 2006/378, art. 7(c); S.I. 2007/3341, art. 2(d)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C8 This version of this provision extends to England and Wales and Northern Ireland only; a separate version has been created for Scotland only

Commencement Information

I1 S. 120(3) in force for E.W. at 19.3.2001 and s. 120(1)(2)(4)-(7) in force for E.W. at 1.5.2001 by S.I. 2001/1097, art. 2

S. 120(3) in force for S. at 1.1.2002 and s. 120(1)(2)(4)-(7) in force for S. at 1.2.2002 by S.S.I. 2001/482, art. 2

I2 S. 120 in force at 3.12.2007 for N.I. by S.I. 2007/3342, art. 2(a)

[F13 120 Registered persons. S

(1) For the purposes of this Part a registered person is a person who is listed in a register to be maintained by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Part.

(2) Subject to [F14 section 120A and] regulations under subsection (3), the Secretary of State shall include in the register any person who applies to him F15 ... to be registered and satisfies the conditions in subsections (4) to (6).

(3) The Secretary of State may make regulations about the maintenance of the register; and regulations may, in particular, provide for—

(a) the information to be included in the register,

[F16 (aa) the nomination by—

(i) a body corporate or unincorporate; or

(ii) a person appointed to an office by virtue of an enactment,

whether that body or person is registered or applying to be registered, of an individual to act for it or, as the case may be, him in relation to the countersigning of applications under this Part;

(ab) the refusal by the Scottish Ministers, on such grounds as may be specified in or determined under the regulations, to accept or to continue to accept any nomination made by virtue of this subsection;

(ac) as to the period which must elapse before any person refused registration or removed from the register may apply to be included in the register;]

(b) the removal from the register of persons who are, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, no longer likely to wish to countersign applications under section [F17 113A or 113B], and

(c) the payment of fees.

(4) A person applying for registration under this section must be—

(a) a body corporate or unincorporate,

(b) a person appointed to an office by virtue of any enactment, or

(c) an individual who employs others in the course of a business.

(5) A body applying for registration under this section must satisfy the Secretary of State that it—

(a) is likely to ask exempted questions, or

(b) is likely to countersign applications under section [F11 113A or 113B] at the request of bodies or individuals asking exempted questions.

(6) A person, other than a body, applying for registration under this section must satisfy the Secretary of State that he is likely to ask exempted questions.

(7) In this section “exempted question” has the same meaning as in section [F12 113A].]

Extent Information

E1 This version of this provision extends to Scotland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales and Northern Ireland only

Textual Amendments

F11 Words in s. 120(5)(b) substituted (1.4.2006 for S., 6.4.2006 for E.W., 3.12.2007 for N.I.) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(4)(e)(8), Sch. 14 para. 6(b); S.S.I. 2006/166, art. 2(1)(e); S.I. 2006/378, art. 7(c); S.I. 2007/3341, art. 2(d)

F12 Word in s. 120(7) substituted (1.4.2006 for S., 6.4.2006 for E.W., 3.12.2007 for N.I.) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(4)(e)(8), Sch. 14 para. 6(c); S.S.I. 2006/166, art. 2(1)(e); S.I. 2006/378, art. 7(c); S.I. 2007/3341, art. 2(d)

F13 Ss. 124A, 124B inserted (S.) (1.4.2006 for the insertion of s. 124A) by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 7), ss. 70(8), 89(2); S.S.I. 2006/168, art. 2

F14 Words in s. 120(2) inserted (S.) (1.4.2006) by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 7), ss. 70(6)(a), 89(2); S.S.I. 2006/168, art. 2

F15 Words in s. 120(2) repealed (11.1.2008) by Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 14), ss. 79(2), 101(2) (with ss. 90, 99); S.S.I. 2007/564, art. 2, sch.

F16 S. 120(3)(aa)-(ac) inserted (S.) (1.4.2006) by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 7), ss. 70(6)(b), 89(2); S.S.I. 2006/168, art. 2

F17 Words in s. 120(3)(b) substituted (1.4.2006 for S.) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(4)(e)(8), Sch. 14 para. 6(a); S.S.I. 2006/166, art. 2(1)(e); S.I. 2007/3341, art. 2(d)

Commencement Information

I3 S. 120(3) in force at 19.3.2001 for E.W. and s. 120(1)(2)(4)-(7) in force at 1.5.2001 for E.W. by S.I. 2001/1097, art. 2

S. 120(3) in force at 1.1.2002 for S. and s. 120(1)(2)(4)-(7) in force at 1.2.2002 for S. by S.S.I. 2001/482, art. 2