Police Act 1996

24 Aid of one police force by another. E+W

(1) The chief officer of police of any police force may, on the application of the chief officer of police of any other police force, provide constables or other assistance for the purpose of enabling the other force to meet any special demand on its resources.

(2) If it appears to the Secretary of State to be expedient in the interests of public safety or order that any police force should be reinforced or should receive other assistance for the purpose of enabling it to meet any special demand on its resources, and that satisfactory arrangements under subsection (1) cannot be made, or cannot be made in time, he may direct the chief officer of police of any police force to provide such constables or other assistance for that purpose as may be specified in the direction.

(3) While a constable is provided under this section for the assistance of another police force he shall, notwithstanding sections [F1 sections 2 and 4 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (“the 2011 Act”)], be under the direction and control of the chief officer of police of that other force.

[F2 (3A) While a member of the civilian staff of a police force maintained under section 2, or a member of the civilian staff of the metropolitan police force, is provided under this section for the assistance of another police force, that member of staff is, notwithstanding section 2 or 4 of the 2011 Act, under the direction and control of the chief officer of police of that other force.]

(4) The [F3 local policing body] maintaining a police force for which assistance is provided under this section shall pay to the [F3 local policing body] maintaining the force from which that assistance is provided such contribution as may be agreed upon between [F4 those bodies] or, in the absence of any such agreement, as may be provided by any agreement subsisting at the time between all [F5 local policing bodies] generally, or, in the absence of such general agreement, as may be determined by the Secretary of State.

[F6 (4A) This section shall apply in relation to the British Transport Police Authority, the British Transport Police Force and the Chief Constable of that Force as it applies to a [F7 local policing body] , a police force and a chief officer of police respectively; and for that purpose the reference in subsection (3) to [F8 sections 2 and 4 of the 2011 Act shall be construed as including a reference to section 24(2) of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003.]

F9 (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 24(3) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 23(2); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1 (with Sch. 2 para. 10)

F2 S. 24(3A) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 23(3); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1 (with Sch. 2 para. 10)

F3 Words in s. 24(4) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 23(4)(a); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F4 Words in s. 24(4) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 23(4)(b); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F5 Words in s. 24(4) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 23(4)(c); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F6 S. 24(4A) substituted (1.7.2004) by The British Transport Police (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1573), arts. 1, 12(4)(b)

F7 Words in s. 24(4A) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 23(5)(a); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F8 Words in s. 24(4A) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 23(5)(b); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1 (with Sch. 2 para. 10)

F9 S. 24(5) repealed (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 70, Sch. 17 Pt. 2; S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. paras. 10, 13(y)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 24 amended (1.7.2004) by Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (c. 20), Sch. 5 para. 4; S.I. 2004/1572, art. 3(jjj)

C2 S. 24(4): power to apply conferred (28.1.2016 for specified purposes, 28.3.2016 in so far as not already in force) by 2009 c. 20, Sch. 5C para. 11(1)(a) (as inserted by Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 (c. 1), s. 25(2), Sch. 2)