Police Act 1996

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))