Police Act 1996, Section 98 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 01 March 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)The chief officer of police of a police force in England or Wales may, on the application of [F1the chief constable of the Police Service of Scotland] or the chief constable of the [F2Police Service of Northern Ireland], provide constables or other assistance for the purpose of enabling the Scottish force or the [F2Police Service of Northern Ireland] to meet any special demand on its resources.
(2)[F3The chief constable of the Police Service of Scotland] may, on the application of the chief officer of police of a police force in England or Wales F4... the chief constable of the [F2Police Service of Northern Ireland] F5..., provide constables or other assistance for the purpose of enabling the English or Welsh force or the [F2Police Service of Northern Ireland] F5... to meet any special demand on its resources.
(3)The chief constable of the [F2Police Service of Northern Ireland] may, on the application of the chief officer of police of a police force in England or Wales or [F6the chief constable of the Police Service of Scotland] F7..., provide constables or other assistance for the purpose of enabling the English or Welsh force or the Scottish force F7... to meet any special demand on its resources.
F8(3A). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(4)If it appears to the Secretary of State—
(a)to be expedient in the interests of public safety or order that a police force F9...should be reinforced or should receive other assistance for the purpose of enabling it to meet any special demand on its resources, and
(b)that satisfactory arrangements under subsection (1), [F10(2) or (3)] cannot be made, or cannot be made in time,
he may direct the chief officer of police of any police force in England or Wales, [F11the chief constable of the Police Service of Scotland] or the chief constable of the [F2Police Service of Northern Ireland] F9..., as the case may be, to provide such constables or other assistance for that purpose as may be specified in the direction.
(5)While a constable is provided under this section for the assistance of another police force F12... he shall, notwithstanding any enactment,—
(a)be under the direction and control of the chief officer of police of that other force (or, where that other force is [F13the Police Service of Scotland] or the [F2Police Service of Northern Ireland] F12..., of [F14the chief constable of that Service] F15...); and
(b)have in any place the like powers and privileges as a member of that other force has in that place as a constable.
(6)The [F16local policing body] maintaining a police force for which assistance is provided under this section shall pay to the [F16local policing body] maintaining the force from which that assistance is provided such contribution as may be agreed upon between [F17those bodies] or, in the absence of any such agreement, as may be provided by any agreement subsisting at the time between all [F18local policing bodies] generally, or, in the absence of such general agreement, as may be determined by the Secretary of State.
F19(6A). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[F20(6B)In this section “local policing body” includes—
(a)[F21the Scottish Police Authority], and
(b)the Northern Ireland Policing Board.]
(7)In the application of this section to Scotland, any expression used in this section and in the [F22Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012] shall have the same meaning in this section as in that Act.
[F23(8)“Constable”, in relation to Northern Ireland, means a police officer within the meaning of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000.]
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 98(1) substituted (1.4.2013) by The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/602), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 25(5)(a)
F2Words in s. 98(1)-(5) substituted (4.11.2001) by 2000 c. 32, s. 74, Sch. 6 para. 12(4); S.R. 2001/396, art. 2, Sch.
F3Words in s. 98(2) substituted (1.4.2013) by The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/602), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 25(5)(b)
F4Word in s. 98(2) repealed (1.4.1998) by 1997 c. 50, s. 134(2), Sch. 10; S.I. 1998/354, art. 2(2)(ay)
F5Words in s. 98(2) repealed (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 83(2), Sch. 17 Pt. 2; S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. paras. 10, 13(y)
F6Words in s. 98(3) substituted (1.4.2013) by The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/602), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 25(5)(c)
F7Words in s. 98(3) repealed (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 83(2), Sch. 17 Pt. 2; S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. paras. 10, 13(y)
F8S. 98(3A) repealed (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 83(3), Sch. 17 Pt. 2; S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. paras. 10, 13(y)
F9Words in s. 98(4) repealed (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 83(4)(a), Sch. 17 Pt. 2; S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. paras. 10, 13(y)
F10Words in s. 98(4) substituted (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 83(4)(b); S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. para. 10
F11Words in s. 98(4) substituted (1.4.2013) by The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/602), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 25(5)(d)
F12Words in s. 98(5) repealed (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 83(5)(a), Sch. 17 Pt. 2; S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. paras. 10, 13(y)
F13Words in s. 98(5)(a) substituted (1.4.2013) by The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/602), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 25(5)(e)(i)
F14Words in s. 98(5)(a) substituted (1.4.2013) by The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/602), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 25(5)(e)(ii)
F15Words in s. 98(5)(a) omitted (1.4.2013) by virtue of The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/602), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 25(5)(e)(iii)
F16Words in s. 98(6) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 45(2)(a); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1
F17Words in s. 98(6) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 45(2)(b); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1
F18Words in s. 98(6) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 45(2)(c); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1
F19S. 98(6A) repealed (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 83(6), Sch. 17 Pt. 2; S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. paras. 10, 13(y)
F20S. 98(6B) inserted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 45(3); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1
F21Words in s. 98(6B) substituted (1.4.2013) by The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/602), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 25(5)(f)
F22Words in s. 98(7) substituted (1.4.2013) by The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/602), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 25(5)(g)
F23S. 98(8) substituted (4.11.2001) for s. 98(8)(9) by 2000 c. 32, s. 74, Sch. 6 para. 12(5); S.R. 2001/396, art. 2, Sch.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 98(6): 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 (E.W.) by Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 (c. 1), s. 25(2), Sch. 2)
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