Police Act 1996

Inspectors of constabulary E+W

54 Appointment and functions of inspectors of constabulary. E+W

(1) Her Majesty may appoint such number of inspectors (to be known as “Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Constabulary”) as the Secretary of State may with the consent of the Treasury determine, and of the persons so appointed one may be appointed as chief inspector of constabulary.

(2) The inspectors of constabulary shall inspect, and report F1 ... on the efficiency and effectiveness of, every police force maintained for a police area F2 ... F3 ... F4 ....

F5 (2A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F6 (2B) The Secretary of State may at any time require the inspectors of constabulary to carry out an inspection under this section of a police force maintained for any police area; and a requirement under this subsection may include a requirement for the inspection to be confined to a particular part of the force in question, to particular matters or to particular activities of that force.]

[F7 (2BA) The local policing body for a police area may at any time request the inspectors of constabulary to carry out an inspection under this section of a police force maintained for that police area; and a request under this subsection may include a request for the inspection to be confined to a particular part of the force in question, to particular matters or to particular activities of that force.

(2BB) Where a local policing body requests the inspectors to carry out an inspection under subsection (2BA), the body must pay to the inspectors such reasonable costs incurred or to be incurred in connection with the inspection as the inspectors may require.]

F8 (2C) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F9 (2D) It shall be the duty of the chief inspector of constabulary—

(a) to enter into arrangements with the Independent Police Complaints Commission for the purpose of securing cooperation, in the carrying out of their respective functions, between the inspectors of constabulary and that Commission; and

(b) to ensure that inspectors of constabulary provide that Commission with all such assistance and co-operation as may be required by those arrangements or as otherwise appears to the chief inspector to be appropriate for facilitating the carrying out by that Commission of its functions.]

(3) The inspectors of constabulary shall carry out such other duties for the purpose of furthering police efficiency and effectiveness as the Secretary of State may from time to time direct.

F10 (3A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) The chief inspector of constabulary shall in each year submit to the Secretary of State a report [F11 on the carrying out of inspections under this section], and the [F12 chief inspector] shall lay a copy of that report before Parliament.

[F13 (4A) A report under subsection (4) must include the chief inspector's assessment of the efficiency and effectiveness of policing in England and Wales for the year in respect of which the report is prepared.]

(5) The inspectors of constabulary shall be paid such salary and allowances as the Secretary of State may with the consent of the Treasury determine.

[F14 (6) Schedule 4A (which makes further provision about the inspectors of constabulary) has effect.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 54(2) omitted (16.1.2012) by virtue of Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 83(2), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F2 Word in s. 54(2) repealed (1.4.2002) by 2001 c. 16, ss. 137, 138(2), Sch. 7 Pt. 3; S.I. 2002/533, art. 2(e)

F3 Words in s. 54(2) repealed (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 71(2), Sch. 17 Pt. 2; S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. paras. 10, 13(y)

F4 Words in s. 54(2) repealed (14.7.2008) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), s. 153(7), Sch. 28 Pt. 8; S.I. 2008/1586, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 50(7)(a)

F5 S. 54(2A) omitted (22.11.2012) by virtue of Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 83(3), 157(1); S.I. 2012/2892, art. 2(a)

F6 S. 54(2B) substituted (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 71(3); S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. para. 10

F7 S. 54(2BA)(2BB) inserted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 83(4), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F8 S. 54(2C) omitted (16.1.2012) by virtue of Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 83(5), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F9 S. 54(2D) inserted (1.4.2004) by Police Reform Act 2002 (c. 30), s. 108(2), Sch. 7 para. 15; S.I. 2004/913, art. 2(e)

F10 S. 54(3A) repealed (19.4.2010) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), ss. 2(2), 116(1), Sch. 8 Pt. 1; S.I. 2010/999, arts. 2(d), 4 (as amended by S.I. 2010/1986, art. 3)

F11 Words in s. 54(4) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 83(6)(a), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F12 Words in s. 54(4) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 83(6)(b), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F13 S. 54(4A) inserted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 83(7), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F14 S. 54(6) inserted (1.4.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 29(1), 53(1); S.I. 2007/709, art. 3(m) (with art. 6)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 54 applied (1.4.2002) by 2001 c. 16, ss. 93(1), 138(2); S.I. 2002/533, art. 2(a)

C2 Ss. 54-56: power to apply conferred (7.4.2005) by Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (c. 11), ss. 27(2)(a)(i), 53(1); S.I. 2005/1126, art. 2(1)

C3 Ss. 54-56: power to apply conferred (21.7.2009) by Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 (c. 11), ss. 29(2)(a), 58(1) (with s. 36(4))

C4 Ss. 54, 55: power to apply conferred (28.1.2016 for specified purposes, 28.3.2016 in so far as not already in force) by 2009 c. 20, Sch. 5C para. 11(1)(d) (as inserted by Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 (c. 1), s. 25(2), Sch. 2)

C5 S. 54(2D) applied (10.12.2012) by The Customs (Inspections by Her Majestys Inspectors of Constabulary and the Scottish Inspectors) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/2840), regs. 1, 11(1)

55 Publication of reports. E+W

[F15 (1) The inspectors of constabulary must arrange for any report prepared under section 54 to be published in such manner as appears to the inspectors to be appropriate.]

[F16 (2) But the inspectors of constabulary must exclude from publication under subsection (1) anything that the inspectors consider—

(a) would be against the interests of national security, or

(b) might jeopardise the safety of any person.]

[F16 (2A) The inspectors must disclose to the Secretary of State anything excluded from publication by virtue of subsection (2).]

[F17 (3) The inspectors of constabulary must send a copy of the published report to—

(a) the Secretary of State,

(b) the local policing body maintaining the police force to which the report relates,

(c) the chief officer of police of that police force, and

(d) any police and crime panel established under section 28 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 for the police area of that police force.]

(4) The [F18 local policing body] shall invite the chief officer of police to submit comments on the published report to the [F19 body] before such date as it may specify.

(5) The [F20 local policing body] shall prepare comments on the published report and shall arrange for—

(a) its comments,

(b) any comments submitted by the chief officer of police in accordance with subsection (4), and

(c) any response which the [F21 body] has to the comments submitted by the chief officer of police,

to be published in such manner as appears to the [F21 body] to be appropriate.

(6) The [F22 local policing body] F23 ... shall send a copy of any document published under subsection (5) to the Secretary of State.

F24 (7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F25 (8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F15 S. 55(1) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 84(2), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F16 S. 55(2)(2A) substituted for s. 55(2) (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 84(3), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F17 S. 55(3) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 84(4), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F18 Words in s. 55(4) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 84(5)(a), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F19 Word in s. 55(4) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 84(5)(b), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F20 Words in s. 55(5) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 84(6)(a), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F21 Words in s. 55(5)(c) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 84(6)(b), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F22 Words in s. 55(6) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 84(7), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F23 Words in s. 55(6) repealed (3.7.2000) by virtue of 1999 c. 29, ss. 325, 423, Sch. 27 para. 96, Sch. 34 Pt. VII (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)) which provides that the words “(except where he is himself the police authority)" shall be repealed; S.I. 2000/1648, art. 2, Sch.

F24 S. 55(7) repealed (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 72, Sch. 17 Pt. 2; S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. paras. 10, 13(y)

F25 S. 55(8) omitted (16.1.2012) by virtue of Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 84(8), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 Ss. 54-56: power to apply conferred (7.4.2005) by Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (c. 11), ss. 27(2)(a)(i), 53(1); S.I. 2005/1126, art. 2(1)

C3 Ss. 54-56: power to apply conferred (21.7.2009) by Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 (c. 11), ss. 29(2)(a), 58(1) (with s. 36(4))

C4 Ss. 54, 55: power to apply conferred (28.1.2016 for specified purposes, 28.3.2016 in so far as not already in force) by 2009 c. 20, Sch. 5C para. 11(1)(d) (as inserted by Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 (c. 1), s. 25(2), Sch. 2)

C6 S. 55 applied (with modifications) (1.7.2004) by Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (c. 20), s. 63(6); S.I. 2004/1572, art. 3(tt)

56 Assistant inspectors and staff officers. E+W

(1) The Secretary of State may appoint assistant inspectors of constabulary.

(2) Members of a police force may be appointed by the Secretary of State to be assistant inspectors of constabulary or to be staff officers to the inspectors of constabulary.

(3) Persons appointed under this section shall be paid such salary and allowances as the Secretary of State may with the consent of the Treasury determine.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 Ss. 54-56: power to apply conferred (7.4.2005) by Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (c. 11), ss. 27(2)(a)(i), 53(1); S.I. 2005/1126, art. 2(1)

C3 Ss. 54-56: power to apply conferred (21.7.2009) by Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 (c. 11), ss. 29(2)(a), 58(1) (with s. 36(4))

C7 S. 56 modified (29.4.2005) by The Revenue and Customs (Inspections) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/1133), regs. 1, 10(1)