Police Act 1996

[F1 Inspection programmes and inspection frameworks U.K.

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 4A inserted (1.4.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 29(2), 53(1); S.I. 2007/709, art. 3(m) (with art. 6)

2 (1) F2 The chief inspector of constabulary shall from time to time ... prepare— U.K.

(a) a document setting out what inspections [F3 the inspectors of constabulary propose] to carry out (an “inspection programme”);

(b) a document setting out the manner in which [F4 they propose to carry out their] functions of inspecting and reporting (an “inspection framework”).

(2) Before preparing an inspection programme or an inspection framework the chief inspector of constabulary shall consult the Secretary of State and (subject to sub-paragraph (3))—

(a) Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons,

(b) Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service,

(c) [F5 Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Probation for England and Wales],

F6 (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(e) Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills,

F7 (f) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F8 (g) the Care Quality Commission,]

F9 (h) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(i) the Auditor General for Wales, and

(j) any other person or body specified by an order made by the Secretary of State,

and he shall send to [F10 the Secretary of State] a copy of each programme or framework once it is prepared.

[F11 (2A) The chief inspector of constabulary must—

(a) lay before Parliament a copy of each inspection programme or inspection framework prepared under this paragraph,

(b) arrange for each such programme or framework to be published in such manner as the chief inspector thinks appropriate, and

(c) send a copy of each such programme or framework to each of the persons or bodies listed in sub-paragraph (2)(a) to (j).

(2B) But the chief inspector of constabulary must obtain the approval of the Secretary of State to the inspection programme or framework in question before acting under sub-paragraph (2A).]

(3) The requirement in sub-paragraph (2) to consult, and [F12 under sub-paragraph (2A)(c)] to send copies to, a person or body listed in paragraphs (a) to (j) of [F13 sub-paragraph (2)] is subject to any agreement made between the chief inspector and that person or body to waive the requirement in such cases or circumstances as may be specified in the agreement.

F14 (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F15 (4A) The Secretary of State may by order specify matters to which the chief inspector of constabulary must have regard in preparing an inspection programme or an inspection framework.

(4B) Those matters may (in particular) include the need to secure, so far as possible, the following objectives—

(a) that any requirements placed on police forces as a result of inspections carried out under section 54 are not unduly burdensome; and

(b) that inspections under that section can be carried out promptly in response to matters that raise issues of national importance in relation to the police.

(4C) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (4B)(b), the Secretary of State may issue guidance as to the matters that raise issues of national importance in relation to the police; and the chief inspector of constabulary must have regard to any such guidance in preparing an inspection programme or an inspection framework.]

(5) Nothing in any inspection programme or inspection framework is to be read as preventing the inspectors of constabulary from making visits without notice.

[F16 (6) The chief inspector of constabulary or, at the request of the chief inspector, any other inspector may carry out inspections that have not been set out in an inspection programme (and have not been required under section 54(2B) or requested under section 54(2BA)).

(7) Before deciding to carry out, or to request another inspector to carry out, an inspection that has not been set out in an inspection programme, the chief inspector of constabulary must consult —

(a) the Secretary of State, and

(b) the local policing body for the police force to which the inspection relates.]]

Textual Amendments

F2 Words in Sch. 4A para. 2(1) omitted (16.1.2012) by virtue of Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 85(2), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F3 Words in Sch. 4A para. 2(1)(a) substituted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 2.5.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), ss. 37(5)(a), 183(1)(5)(e); S.I. 2017/399, reg. 4(a)

F4 Words in Sch. 4A para. 2(1)(b) substituted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 2.5.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), ss. 37(5)(b), 183(1)(5)(e); S.I. 2017/399, reg. 4(a)

F5 Words in Sch. 4A para. 2(2)(c) substituted (1.4.2008) by The Offender Management Act 2007 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/912), art. 1, Sch. 1 para. 27(2)(b)

F6 Sch. 4A para. 2(2)(d) repealed (18.9.2012) by The Public Bodies (Abolition of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Courts Administration and the Public Guardian Board) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2401), art. 1(2)(3), Sch. 1 para. 5(a) (with art. 2)

F7 Sch. 4A para. 2(2)(f) repealed (1.4.2009) by Health and Social Care Act 2008 (c. 14), s. 170(3)(4), Sch. 5 para. 63(2)(a), Sch. 15 Pt. 1; S.I. 2009/462, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 paras. 35(x), 36

F8 Sch. 4A para. 2(2)(g) substituted (1.4.2009) by Health and Social Care Act 2008 (c. 14), s. 170(3)(4), Sch. 5 para. 63(2)(b); S.I. 2009/462, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 35(x)

F9 Sch. 4A para. 2(2)(h) omitted (1.4.2015) by virtue of Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 (c. 2), s. 49(1), Sch. 12 para. 31(2); S.I. 2015/841, art. 3(x)

F10 Words in Sch. 4A para. 2(2) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 85(3), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F11 Sch. 4A para. 2(2A)(2B) inserted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 85(4), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F12 Words in Sch. 4A para. 2(3) inserted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 85(5)(a), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F13 Words in Sch. 4A para. 2(3) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 85(5)(b), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F14 Sch. 4A para. 2(4) omitted (16.1.2012) by virtue of Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 85(6), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F15 Sch. 4A para. 2(4A)-(4C) inserted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 85(7), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F16 Sch. 4A para. 2(6)(7) inserted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 2.5.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), ss. 37(5)(c), 183(1)(5)(e); S.I. 2017/399, reg. 4(a)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Sch. 4A para. 2 applied (7.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), ss. 11(5), 61(2); S.I. 2013/1682, art. 3(o)