- Latest available (Revised)
- Original (As enacted)
Police Act 1996, Section 40 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 30 August 2024. 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.
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
(1)Where the Secretary of State is satisfied that the whole or any part of a police force is failing to discharge any of its functions in an effective manner, whether generally or in particular respects, he may direct the [F2local policing body] responsible for maintaining the force to take specified measures for the purpose of remedying the failure.
(2)Where the Secretary of State is satisfied that the whole or a part of a police force will fail to discharge any of its functions in an effective manner, whether generally or in particular respects, unless remedial measures are taken, he may direct the [F2local policing body] responsible for maintaining the force to take specified measures in order to prevent such a failure occurring.
(3)The measures that may be specified in a direction under subsection (1) or (2) include the submission to the Secretary of State of an action plan setting out the measures which the person or persons submitting the plan propose to take for the purpose of remedying the failure in question or (as the case may be) preventing such a failure occurring.
(4)The Secretary of State shall not give a direction under this section in relation to any police force unless—
(a)the [F2local policing body] responsible for maintaining the force and the chief officer of police of that force have each been given such information about the Secretary of State's grounds for proposing to give that direction as he considers appropriate for enabling them to make representations or proposals under the following paragraphs of this subsection;
(b)that [F2local policing body] and chief officer have each been given an opportunity of making representations about those grounds;
(c)that [F2local policing body] and chief officer have each had an opportunity of making proposals for the taking of remedial measures that would make the giving of the direction unnecessary; and
(d)the Secretary of State has considered any such representations and any such proposals.
(5)Subsection (4) does not apply if the Secretary of State is satisfied that—
(a)the [F2local policing body] responsible for maintaining the force and the chief officer of police of that force have already been made aware of the matters constituting the Secretary of State's grounds for proposing to give a direction under this section;
(b)the information they had about those matters was sufficient to enable them to identify remedial measures that would have made the giving of the direction unnecessary; and
(c)they have each had a reasonable opportunity to take such measures.
(6)The Secretary of State shall not give a direction under this section unless Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary has been given—
(a)the same information about the grounds for proposing to give that direction as is required to be given under subsection (4)(a) (or would be so required but for subsection (5)); and
(b)an opportunity of making written observations about those grounds.
The Secretary of State shall publish any such observations in such manner as appears to him to be appropriate.
(7)A [F2local policing body] that is given a direction under this section shall comply with it.]
Textual Amendments
F1Ss. 40-40B substituted for s. 40 (1.4.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), s. 53(1), Sch. 2 para. 27; S.I. 2007/709, art. 3(c) (with art. 6)
F2Words in s. 40 substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 91(2), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Ss. 40-40B: 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)(c) (as inserted by Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 (c. 1), s. 25(2), Sch. 2)
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including: