Police Act 1964

21 Amalgamation schemes

(1) If it appears to the police authorities for any two or more police areas, being areas for which police forces are required by section 1 of this Act to be maintained, that it is expedient that those areas should be amalgamated for police purposes, they may for that purpose submit to the Secretary of State an amalgamation scheme, and the Secretary of State may by order approve any scheme so submitted to him.

(2) If it appears to the Secretary of State that it is expedient in the interests of efficiency that an amalgamation scheme should be made for any two or more such police areas and no scheme satisfactory to him has been submitted under subsection (1) of this section, the Secretary of State may for that purpose by order make such amalgamation scheme as he considers expedient.

(3) An amalgamation scheme shall make provision with respect to the following matters, that is to say—

(a) the establishment of a combined police authority and a combined police force for the combined area constituted by the scheme, and of a combined police fund for the payment of the expenses of that authority and force;

(b) the appointment of officers of the combined police authority, including a clerk of that authority and a treasurer of the combined police fund;

(c) the payment into the combined police fund, out of the local funds of the areas comprised in the combined area, of contributions assessed in accordance with the provisions of the scheme ;

(d) the transfer for the purposes of the scheme of members of the police forces concerned, other than chief constables, and of special constables and police cadets;

(e) the transfer to the combined police authority of property, rights and liabilities of the constituent authorities, and officers of those authorities, or the use by the combined police authority of any such property;

(f) the delegation to the constituent councils of the functions of police authorities under section 5 of the Police, Factories, &c. (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1916 and under the House to House Collections Act 1939;

and may provide for any other matters incidental to or consequential on the provisions of the scheme.

(4) Any functions which are delegated to a council by virtue of paragraph (f) of subsection (3) of this section may be delegated by that council to a committee of the council.

(5) An amalgamation scheme shall come into force on such date as may be prescribed by the scheme, and different dates may be so prescribed for the purposes of the provisions of the scheme relating to the constitution of the combined police authority and the performance by that authority of functions necessary for bringing the scheme into full operation, and for other purposes of the scheme.

(6) Before approving or making an amalgamation scheme the Secretary of State shall ascertain whether the constituent councils desire to make such a request as is referred to in section 3(4) of this Act.

(7) Schedule 3 to this Act shall have effect with respect to the procedure for making amalgamation schemes under subsection (2) of this section; and the transitory provisions set out in Schedule 4 to this Act shall have effect in relation to any amalgamation scheme under this section.

(8) A draft of any statutory instrument to be made under subsection (2) of this section shall be laid before Parliament.