12.—(1) The possession enforcement duty in England and Wales is hereby transferred to the chief officer of police of each police force and shall be the duty of every chief officer of police in relation to the police area for which the force in question is maintained(1).
(2) The possession enforcement duty in Scotland is hereby transferred to the chief constable of each police force and shall be the duty of every chief constable in relation to the police area for which the force in question is maintained(2).
(3) The use enforcement duty in England and Wales is hereby transferred to the chief officer of police of each police force and shall be the duty of every chief officer of police in relation to the police area for which the force in question is maintained.
(4) The importation enforcement duty is hereby transferred to the Commissioners of Customs and Excise and shall be the duty of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise.
(5) Every weights and measures authority of Great Britain is hereby relieved of the possession enforcement duty and the importation enforcement duty.
(6) Every weights and measures authority in England and Wales is hereby relieved of the use enforcement duty.
(7) In every area where there is a fire and civil defence authority, the licensing enforcement duty is hereby transferred to that authority and any weights and measures authority for that area is hereby relieved of the licensing enforcement duty.
The expressions “chief officer of police”, “police force” and “police area” are defined, in relation to England and Wales, in Schedule 1 of the Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30) and section 101 of the Police Act 1996 (c. 16).
The expressions “chief constable”, “police force” and “police area” are defined, in relation to Scotland, in Schedule 1 of the Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30) and section 50 of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967 (c. 77).