Police Act 1997

Changes over time for: Cross Heading: Complaints etc.

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Changes to legislation:

Police Act 1997, Cross Heading: Complaints etc. is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 25 February 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.

View outstanding changes

Changes and effects yet to be applied to Part III Crossheading Complaints-etc:

s. 112(2A) inserted by 2011 c. 24 (N.I.) s. 101
s. 113(3)(e) words inserted by S.S.I. 2006/50 art. 2(2)
s. 113(4A) inserted by 2003 c. 44 Sch. 35 para. 3(3)
s. 113A(6A)-(6C) inserted by 2011 asp 1 s. 188(b)
s. 115(9A) (9B) inserted by 2003 c. 44 Sch. 35 para. 4(5)
s. 118(2ZA) inserted by 2009 c. 26 s. 95
s. 121(a) inserted by 2006 asp 10 s. 3(8)(a)
Sch. 8B para. 102(ea) inserted by 2023 c. 47 s. 3(2)

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):

s. 112(2A) inserted by 2011 c. 24 (N.I.) s. 101
s. 113(3)(e) words inserted by S.S.I. 2006/50 art. 2(2)
s. 113(4A) inserted by 2003 c. 44 Sch. 35 para. 3(3)
s. 113A(6A)-(6C) inserted by 2011 asp 1 s. 188(b)
s. 115(9A) (9B) inserted by 2003 c. 44 Sch. 35 para. 4(5)
s. 118(2ZA) inserted by 2009 c. 26 s. 95
s. 121(a) inserted by 2006 asp 10 s. 3(8)(a)
Sch. 8B para. 102(ea) inserted by 2023 c. 47 s. 3(2)

Complaints etc.U.K.

F1102. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .U.K.

Textual Amendments

F1S. 102 repealed (25.9.2000) by 2000 c. 23, ss. 70(2)(c), 82(2), Sch. 5 (with s. 82(3)); S.I. 2000/2543, art. 2 (and by art. 6(1) of that S.I. the repeal is expressed to be brought into force on 2.10.2000 subject to the provisions of art. 6(2)-(5))

103 Quashing of authorisations etc.U.K.

(1)Where, at any time, [F2a Judicial Commissioner] is satisfied that, at the time an authorisation was given or renewed, there were no reasonable grounds for believing the matters specified in section 93(2), he may quash the authorisation or, as the case may be, renewal.

(2)Where, in the case of an authorisation or renewal to which section 97 does not apply, [F3a Judicial Commissioner] is at any time satisfied that, at the time the authorisation was given or, as the case may be, renewed,—

(a)there were reasonable grounds for believing any of the matters specified in subsection (2) of section 97, and

(b)there were no reasonable grounds for believing the case to be one of urgency for the purposes of subsection (3) of that section,

he may quash the authorisation or, as the case may be, renewal.

(3)Where [F4a Judicial Commissioner] quashes an authorisation or renewal under subsection (1) or (2), he may order the destruction of any records relating to information obtained by virtue of the authorisation (or, in the case of a renewal, relating wholly or partly to information so obtained after the renewal) other than records required for pending criminal or civil proceedings.

(4)If [F5a Judicial Commissioner] is satisfied that, at any time after an authorisation was given or, in the case of an authorisation renewed under section 95, after it was renewed, there were no reasonable grounds for believing the matters specified in section 93(2), he may cancel the authorisation.

(5)Where—

(a)an authorisation has ceased to have effect (otherwise than by virtue of subsection (1) or (2)), and

(b)[F6a Judicial Commissioner] is satisfied that, at any time during the period of the authorisation, there were no reasonable grounds for believing the matters specified in section 93(2),

he may order the destruction of any records relating, wholly or partly, to information which was obtained by virtue of the authorisation after that time (other than records required for pending criminal or civil proceedings).

(6)Where [F7a Judicial Commissioner] exercises his powers under subsection (1), (2) or (4), he shall, if he is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for doing so, order that the authorisation shall be effective, for such period as he shall specify, so far as it authorises the taking of action to retrieve anything left on property in accordance with the authorisation.

(7)Where [F8a Judicial Commissioner (other than the Investigatory Powers Commissioner)] exercises a power conferred by this section, he shall, as soon as is reasonably practicable, make a report of his findings—

(a)to the authorising officer who gave the authorisation or in whose absence it was given, and

(b)to the [F9Investigatory Powers Commissioner];

[F10and subsection (6A) of section 97 shall apply for the purposes of this subsection as it applies for the purposes of subsection (6) of that section.]

(8)Where—

(a)a decision is made under subsection (1) or (2) and an order for the destruction of records is made under subsection (3), or

(b)a decision to order the destruction of records is made under subsection (5),

the order shall not become operative until [F11any period] for appealing against the decision has expired and, where an appeal is made, a decision dismissing it has been made by the [F12Investigatory Powers Commissioner].

(9)[F13A Judicial Commissioner] may exercise any of the powers conferred by this section notwithstanding any approval given under section 97.

Textual Amendments

F2Words in s. 103(1) substituted (1.9.2017) by Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (c. 25), ss. 233(2)(b), 272(1) (with Sch. 9 paras. 7, 8, 10); S.I. 2017/859, reg. 2(e)

F3Words in s. 103(2) substituted (1.9.2017) by Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (c. 25), ss. 233(2)(b), 272(1) (with Sch. 9 paras. 7, 8, 10); S.I. 2017/859, reg. 2(e)

F4Words in s. 103(3) substituted (1.9.2017) by Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (c. 25), ss. 233(2)(c), 272(1) (with Sch. 9 paras. 7, 8, 10); S.I. 2017/859, reg. 2(e)

F5Words in s. 103(4) substituted (1.9.2017) by Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (c. 25), ss. 233(2)(b), 272(1) (with Sch. 9 paras. 7, 8, 10); S.I. 2017/859, reg. 2(e)

F6Words in s. 103(5)(b) substituted (1.9.2017) by Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (c. 25), ss. 233(2)(b), 272(1) (with Sch. 9 paras. 7, 8, 10); S.I. 2017/859, reg. 2(e)

F7Words in s. 103(6) substituted (1.9.2017) by Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (c. 25), ss. 233(2)(c), 272(1) (with Sch. 9 paras. 7, 8, 10); S.I. 2017/859, reg. 2(e)

F8Words in s. 103(7) substituted (1.9.2017) by Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (c. 25), ss. 233(2)(d), 272(1) (with Sch. 9 paras. 7, 8, 10); S.I. 2017/859, reg. 2(e)

F9Words in s. 103(7)(b) substituted (1.9.2017) by Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (c. 25), ss. 233(2)(a), 272(1) (with Sch. 9 paras. 7, 8, 10); S.I. 2017/859, reg. 2(e)

F10Words in s. 103(7) substituted (25.9.2000) by 2000 c. 23, s. 82(1), Sch. 4 para. 8(8) (with s. 82(3)); S.I. 2000/2543, art. 2

F11Words in s. 103(8) substituted (1.9.2017) by Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (c. 25), s. 272(1), Sch. 10 para. 72 (with Sch. 9 paras. 7, 8, 10); S.I. 2017/859, reg. 2(j)