57 Common services.E+W
(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.
(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 all police forces in England and Wales 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.
[F1(3A)Regulations under this section relating to all police forces may also require the [F2Serious 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 [F3Agency for the Agency ] to do so.]
(4)Before making regulations under this section, the Secretary of State shall consult—
[F4(a)the Association of Police Authorities;
(b)the Association of Chief Police Officers; and]
[F5(c)if the regulations relate to the Serious Organised Crime Agency, that Agency.]
[F6(5)The Secretary of State shall consult the [F7 National 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(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)
F2Words 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
F3Words 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
F4S. 57(4)(a)(b) substituted (1.4.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), s. 53(1), Sch. 4 para. 7; S.I. 2007/709, art. 3(d) (with art. 6)
F5S. 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
F6S. 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)
F7Words 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)