(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 [F2one 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 [F4Serious Organised 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 [F5Agency 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)the Association of Chief Police Officers; and
[F7(c)if the regulations relate to the Serious Organised Crime Agency, that Agency.]
[F8(5)The Secretary of State shall consult the [F9National Policing Improvement Agency] before making regulations under this section relating to information technology.
(6)In subsection (5) “information technology” includes any computer or other technology by means of which information or other matter may be recorded or communicated without being reduced to documentary form.]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 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))
F2Words 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)
F3S. 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)
F4Words 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)(a); S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. para. 10
F5Words 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
F6S. 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)
F7S. 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
F8S. 57(5)(6) added (1.4.1998) by 1997 c. 50, s. 134(1), Sch. 9 para. 78(4); S.I. 1998/354, art. 2(2)(ay)
F9Words in s. 57(5) substituted (1.4.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), s. 53(1), Sch. 1 para. 64; S.I. 2007/709, art. 3(a) (with art. 6)
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.