Police Act 1996

55 Publication of reports. E+W

[F1 (1) The inspectors of constabulary must arrange for any report prepared under section 54 to be published in such manner as appears to the inspectors to be appropriate.]

[F2 (2) But the inspectors of constabulary must exclude from publication under subsection (1) anything that the inspectors consider—

(a) would be against the interests of national security, or

(b) might jeopardise the safety of any person.]

[F2 (2A) The inspectors must disclose to the Secretary of State anything excluded from publication by virtue of subsection (2).]

[F3 (3) The inspectors of constabulary must send a copy of the published report to—

(a) the Secretary of State,

(b) the local policing body maintaining the police force to which the report relates,

(c) the chief officer of police of that police force, and

(d) any police and crime panel established under section 28 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 for the police area of that police force.]

(4) The [F4 local policing body] shall invite the chief officer of police to submit comments on the published report to the [F5 body] before such date as it may specify.

(5) The [F6 local policing body] shall prepare comments on the published report and shall arrange for—

(a) its comments,

(b) any comments submitted by the chief officer of police in accordance with subsection (4), and

(c) any response which the [F7 body] has to the comments submitted by the chief officer of police,

to be published in such manner as appears to the [F7 body] to be appropriate.

[F8 (5A) The comments of the local policing body, together with any comments submitted by the chief officer of police and any response to those comments by the local policing body, must be published before the end of the period of 56 days beginning with the day on which the report is published.

(5B) If the published report includes a recommendation, the comments of the local policing body must include an explanation of—

(a) the action the local policing body has taken or proposes to take in response to the recommendation, or

(b) why the local policing body has not taken, or does not propose to take, any action in response.]

(6) The [F9 local policing body] F10 ... shall send a copy of any document published under subsection (5) [F11 to—

(a) the inspectors of constabulary, and

(b) the Secretary of State.]

F12 (7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F13 (8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 55(1) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 84(2), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F2 S. 55(2)(2A) substituted for s. 55(2) (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 84(3), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F3 S. 55(3) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 84(4), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F4 Words in s. 55(4) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 84(5)(a), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F5 Word in s. 55(4) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 84(5)(b), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F6 Words in s. 55(5) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 84(6)(a), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F7 Words in s. 55(5)(c) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 84(6)(b), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F8 S. 55(5A)(5B) inserted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 2.5.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), ss. 37(2), 183(1)(5)(e); S.I. 2017/399, reg. 4(a) (with reg. 7)

F9 Words in s. 55(6) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 84(7), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F10 Words in s. 55(6) repealed (3.7.2000) by virtue of 1999 c. 29, ss. 325, 423, Sch. 27 para. 96, Sch. 34 Pt. VII (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)) which provides that the words “(except where he is himself the police authority)" shall be repealed; S.I. 2000/1648, art. 2, Sch.

F11 Words in s. 55(6) substituted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 2.5.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), ss. 37(3), 183(1)(5)(e); S.I. 2017/399, reg. 4(a)

F12 S. 55(7) repealed (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 72, Sch. 17 Pt. 2; S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. paras. 10, 13(y)

F13 S. 55(8) omitted (16.1.2012) by virtue of Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 84(8), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 55 applied (with modifications) (1.7.2004) by Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (c. 20), s. 63(6); S.I. 2004/1572, art. 3(tt)

C2 Ss. 54-56: power to apply conferred (7.4.2005) by Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (c. 11), ss. 27(2)(a)(i), 53(1); S.I. 2005/1126, art. 2(1)

C3 Ss. 54-56: power to apply conferred (21.7.2009) by Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 (c. 11), ss. 29(2)(a), 58(1) (with s. 36(4))

C4 Ss. 54, 55: 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)(d) (as inserted by Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 (c. 1), s. 25(2), Sch. 2)