Police Act 1997

23 Aid by and for NCIS

(1) The Director General of NCIS may, on the application of—

(a) the chief officer of police of a police force in England and Wales,

(b) the chief constable of a police force in Scotland,

(c) the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, or

(d) the Director General of the National Crime Squad,

provide constables or other assistance for the purposes of enabling the police force or the Royal Ulster Constabulary or, as the case may, the National Crime Squad to meet any special demand on its resources.

(2) On the application of the Director General of NCIS—

(a) the chief officer of police of a police force in England and Wales,

(b) the chief constable of a police force in Scotland,

(c) the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, or

(d) the Director General of the National Crime Squad,

may provide constables or other assistance for the purposes of enabling NCIS to meet any special demand on its resources.

(3) If it appears to the Secretary of State—

(a) that it is expedient in the interests of public safety or order that a police force, the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the National Crime Squad or NCIS should be reinforced or should receive other assistance for the purpose of enabling it to meet any special demand on its resources, and

(b) that satisfactory arrangements under subsection (1) or (2) cannot be made, or cannot be made in time,

he may direct the Director General of NCIS, the chief officer of police of any police force in England and Wales, the chief constable of any police force in Scotland, the chief constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary or the Director General of the National Crime Squad to provide such constables or other assistance for that purpose as may be specified in the direction.

(4) While a constable is provided under this section for the assistance of a police force, the Royal Ulster Constabulary or the National Crime Squad he shall, notwithstanding section 10(1), be under the direction and control of the chief officer of that force or, as the case may be, the chief constable of that force or Constabulary or the Director General of that Squad.

(5) While a constable is provided under this section for the assistance of NCIS he shall, notwithstanding section 56(1) below, section 10(1) of the [1996 c. 16.] Police Act 1996, section 17(2) of the [1967 c. 77.] Police (Scotland) Act 1967 or section 6(2) of the [1970 c. 9 (N.I.).] Police Act (Northern Ireland) 1970, be under the direction and control of the Director General of NCIS.

(6) For the purposes of this section “constable”, in relation to Northern Ireland, means a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary or the Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve.