Police Act 1996, Section 1 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 26 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.
(1)England and Wales shall be divided into police areas.
(2)The police areas referred to in subsection (1) shall be—
(a)those listed in Schedule 1 (subject to [F1any amendment made to the first column of that Schedule by regulations under section 31A or any amendment made to the second column, or to the first and second columns, by an order] under section 32 below, [F2section 45 of the [F3Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru etc. Act 2013],] [F4section 17 of the Local Government Act 1992 or Part 1 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007]),
(b)the metropolitan police district, and
(c)the City of London police area.
(3)References in Schedule 1 to any local government area are to that area as it is for the time being, F5. . .
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 1(2)(a) substituted (31.1.2017) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), ss. 124(2), 183(5)(a)(e)
F2Words in s. 1(2)(a) substituted (30.9.2013) by Local Government (Democracy) (Wales) Act 2013 (anaw 4), s. 75(2)(d), Sch. 1 para. 2
F3Words in s. 1(2)(a) substituted (W.) (25.6.2024) by Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024 (asc 4), s. 25(1)(a), Sch. 1 para. 2
F4Words in s. 1(2)(a) substituted (1.11.2007 for E.) by Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (c. 28), s. 245(5), Sch. 1 para. 19(2); S.I. 2007/3136, art. 2(b)
F5Words in s. 1(3) repealed (1.4.2000) by 1999 c. 29, ss. 325, 423, Sch. 27 para. 69, Sch. 34 Pt. VII (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 1999/3271, art. 4(b)(c)(d)
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