(1)The Authority shall before the beginning of each consecutive period of three financial years issue a plan[F1(“a three-year strategy plan”) ] which sets out the authority’s medium-term and long-term strategies for policing the railways during that period.
[F2(2)Before a three-year strategy plan for any period is issued by the Authority, a draft of a plan setting out medium-term and long-term strategies for policing the railways during that period must have been prepared by the Chief Constable and submitted by him to the Authority for its consideration.
(3)In preparing the draft plan, the Chief Constable shall have regard to opinions expressed in accordance with section 62.
(4)The Authority may modify a three-year strategy plan which it has issued for a particular period at any time during that period.
(5)The Secretary of State may—
(a)issue guidance to the Authority and to the Chief Constable as to—
(i)the matters to be contained in any three-year strategy plan, and
(ii)the form to be taken by any such plan,
and
(b)revise and modify that guidance from time to time.
(6)Before issuing or revising any guidance under subsection (5) the Secretary of State shall consult—
(a)the Authority,
(b)the Chief Constable, and
(c)such other persons as the Secretary of State thinks fit.
(7)When issuing, preparing or modifying a three-year strategy plan or a draft of such a plan, the Authority or (as the case may be) the Chief Constable shall have regard to—
(a)any guidance issued by the Secretary of State under subsection (5),
(b)any objectives set by the Secretary of State under section 51 for a financial year falling within the period to which the plan relates,[F3 and ]
(c)any performance targets set by the Authority under section 53 relating to such objectives, F4...
F4(d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(8)Where the Authority is proposing to issue or modify any plan under this section, it shall submit that plan, or the modifications, to the Secretary of State.
(9)Where the Authority issues a three-year strategy plan or modifies such a plan, it shall—
(a)send a copy of the plan or the modified plan to the Secretary of State, and
(b)cause the plan or modified plan to be published.
The copy of any modified plan sent to the Secretary of State and the publication of any modified plan must show the modifications, or be accompanied by or published with a document which sets them out or describes them.
(10)If the Secretary of State considers that there are grounds for thinking that—
(a)a three-year strategy plan, or
(b)any proposals by the Authority for such a plan, or for the modification of such a plan,
may not be consistent with any of the objectives, targets or priorities mentioned in subsection (7), he shall, before informing the Authority of his conclusions on whether or not the plan or the proposals are in fact so inconsistent, consult the Authority and the Chief Constable.
(11)The Authority shall consult the Chief Constable before—
(a)it issues a three-year strategy plan that differs in any material respect from the draft submitted to it by the Chief Constable, or
(b)it modifies its three-year strategy plan.
(12)The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for the procedure to be followed on the submission to him of any plan or modifications for the purposes of this section.]
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 55(1) inserted (14.11.2008) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), s. 53(1), Sch. 14 para. 51(2); S.I. 2008/2785, art. 3(b)
F2S. 55(2)-(12) substituted for s. 55(2)(3) (14.11.2008) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), s. 53(1), Sch. 14 para. 51(3); S.I. 2008/2785, art. 3(b)
F3Word in s. 55 (7)(b) inserted (22.11.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 327(a); S.I. 2012/2892, art. 2(i)
F4S. 55 (7)(d) and word omitted (22.11.2012) by virtue of Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 327(b); S.I. 2012/2892, art. 2(i)
Commencement Information
I1S. 55 in force at 1.7.2004 by S.I. 2004/1572, art. 3(ll)