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Police Act 1997
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- 1997 c. 50
- Part V
- Section 120
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Changes to legislation:
Police Act 1997, Section 120 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 04 December 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.
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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.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 120:
- s. 112(2A) inserted by 2011 c. 24 (N.I.) s. 101
- s. 113(3)(e) words inserted by S.S.I. 2006/50 art. 2(2)
- s. 113(4A) inserted by 2003 c. 44 Sch. 35 para. 3(3)
- s. 113A(6A)-(6C) inserted by 2011 asp 1 s. 188(b)
- s. 115(9A) (9B) inserted by 2003 c. 44 Sch. 35 para. 4(5)
- s. 118(2ZA) inserted by 2009 c. 26 s. 95
- s. 121(a) inserted by 2006 asp 10 s. 3(8)(a)
- Sch. 8A para. 34G inserted by S.I. 2024/374 Sch. 5 para. 3
- Sch. 8B para. 102(ea) inserted by 2023 c. 47 s. 3(2)
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
- s. 112(2A) inserted by 2011 c. 24 (N.I.) s. 101
- s. 113(3)(e) words inserted by S.S.I. 2006/50 art. 2(2)
- s. 113(4A) inserted by 2003 c. 44 Sch. 35 para. 3(3)
- s. 113A(6A)-(6C) inserted by 2011 asp 1 s. 188(b)
- s. 115(9A) (9B) inserted by 2003 c. 44 Sch. 35 para. 4(5)
- s. 118(2ZA) inserted by 2009 c. 26 s. 95
- s. 121(a) inserted by 2006 asp 10 s. 3(8)(a)
- Sch. 8A para. 34G inserted by S.I. 2024/374 Sch. 5 para. 3
- Sch. 8B para. 102(ea) inserted by 2023 c. 47 s. 3(2)
120 Registered persons.E+W
(1)For the purposes of this Part a registered person is a person who is listed in a register to be maintained by [F1DBS] for the purposes of this Part.
[F2(2)[F3DBS] shall include in the register any person who—
(a)applies to [F4it] in writing to be registered, [F5and]
(b)satisfies the conditions in subsections (4) to (6), F6...
F6(c)...]
[F7(2A)Subsection (2) is subject to—
(a)regulations under section 120ZA,
(b)section 120A, and
(c)section 120AA and regulations made under that section.]
F8(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(4)A person applying for registration under this section must be—
(a)a body corporate or unincorporate,
(b)a person [F9who is] appointed to an office by virtue of any enactment [F10and who, in the case of an individual, is aged 18 or over], or
(c)an individual [F11aged 18 or over] who employs others in the course of a business.
(5)A body applying for registration under this section must satisfy [F12DBS] that it—
(a)is likely to ask exempted questions, or
(b)is likely to [F13act as the registered person in relation to] applications under section [F14113A or 113B] at the request of bodies or individuals asking exempted questions.
(6)A person, other than a body, applying for registration under this section must satisfy [F15DBS] that he is likely to ask exempted questions.
(7)In this section “exempted question” has the same meaning as in section [F16113A].
Extent Information
E1This version of this provision extends to England and Wales only; separate versions have been created for Scotland and Northern Ireland only
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 120(1) substituted (E.W.) (1.12.2012) by The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (Disclosure and Barring Service Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/3006), arts. 1(1), 37(m) (with Pt. 4)
F2S. 120(2) substituted (6.4.2006 for E.W., 3.12.2007 for N.I.) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(3)(4), Sch. 35 para. 6(2); S.I. 2006/751, art. 2(c)(ii); S.I. 2007/3340, art. 2(b)
F3Words in s. 120(2) substituted (E.W.) (1.12.2012) by The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (Disclosure and Barring Service Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/3006), arts. 1(1), 37(m) (with Pt. 4)
F4Word in s. 120(2)(a) substituted (E.W.) (1.12.2012) by The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (Disclosure and Barring Service Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/3006), arts. 1(1), 43 (with Pt. 4)
F5Word in s. 120(2)(a) inserted (E.W.) (10.9.2012 immediately after the coming into force of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2157)) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), s. 120, Sch. 9 para. 112(2)(b) (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2234, art. 2(aa)(x)
F6S. 120(2)(c) and word repealed (E.W.) (10.9.2012 immediately after the coming into force of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2157)) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), s. 120, Sch. 9 para. 112(2)(c), Sch. 10 Pt. 6 (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2234, art. 2(aa)(cc)(x)
F7S. 120(2A) inserted (E.W.) (10.9.2012 immediately after the coming into force of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2157)) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), s. 120, Sch. 9 para. 112(3) (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2234, art. 2(aa)(x)
F8S. 120(3) repealed (29.1.2004 for E.W., 3.12.2007 for N.I.) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(3)(4), Sch. 35 para. 6(3), Sch. 37 Pt. 11; S.I. 2004/81, art. 4(1)(2)(p); S.I. 2007/3340, art. 2(b)
F9Words in s. 120(4)(b) inserted (E.W.) (10.9.2012 immediately after the coming into force of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2157)) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), ss. 80(2)(a)(i), 120 (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2234, art. 2(s) (with art. 5)
F10Words in s. 120(4)(b) inserted (E.W.) (10.9.2012 immediately after the coming into force of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2157)) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), ss. 80(2)(a)(ii), 120 (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2234, art. 2(s) (with art. 5)
F11Words in s. 120(4)(c) inserted (E.W.) (10.9.2012 immediately after the coming into force of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2157)) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), ss. 80(2)(b), 120 (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2234, art. 2(s) (with art. 5)
F12Words in s. 120(5) substituted (E.W.) (1.12.2012) by The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (Disclosure and Barring Service Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/3006), arts. 1(1), 37(m) (with Pt. 4)
F13Words in s. 120(5)(b) substituted (E.W.) (2.3.2009) by The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Electronic Communications) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/203), arts. 1(1), 5
F14Words in s. 120(5)(b) substituted (1.4.2006 for S., 6.4.2006 for E.W., 3.12.2007 for N.I.) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(4)(e)(8), Sch. 14 para. 6(b); S.S.I. 2006/166, art. 2(1)(e); S.I. 2006/378, art. 7(c); S.I. 2007/3341, art. 2(d)
F15Words in s. 120(6) substituted (E.W.) (1.12.2012) by The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (Disclosure and Barring Service Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/3006), arts. 1(1), 37(m) (with Pt. 4)
F16Word in s. 120(7) substituted (1.4.2006 for S., 6.4.2006 for E.W., 3.12.2007 for N.I.) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(4)(e)(8), Sch. 14 para. 6(c); S.S.I. 2006/166, art. 2(1)(e); S.I. 2006/378, art. 7(c); S.I. 2007/3341, art. 2(d)
Commencement Information
I1S. 120(3) in force for E.W. at 19.3.2001 and s. 120(1)(2)(4)-(7) in force for E.W. at 1.5.2001 by S.I. 2001/1097, art. 2
S. 120(3) in force for S. at 1.1.2002 and s. 120(1)(2)(4)-(7) in force for S. at 1.2.2002 by S.S.I. 2001/482, art. 2
[F17120 Registered persons.S
(1)For the purposes of this Part a registered person is a person who is listed in a register to be maintained by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Part.
(2)Subject to [F18section 120A and] regulations under subsection (3), the Secretary of State shall include in the register any person who applies to him F19... to be registered and satisfies the conditions in subsections (4) to (6).
(3)The Secretary of State may make regulations about the maintenance of the register; and regulations may, in particular, provide for—
(a)the information to be included in the register,
[F20(aa)the nomination by—
(i)a body corporate or unincorporate; or
(ii)a person appointed to an office by virtue of an enactment,
whether that body or person is registered or applying to be registered, of an individual to act for it or, as the case may be, him in relation to the countersigning of applications under this Part;
(ab)the refusal by the Scottish Ministers, on such grounds as may be specified in or determined under the regulations, to accept or to continue to accept any nomination made by virtue of this subsection;
(ac)as to the period which must elapse before any person refused registration or removed from the register may apply to be included in the register;]
(b)the removal from the register of persons who are, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, no longer likely to wish to countersign applications under section [F21113A or 113B], and
(c)the payment of fees.
(4)A person applying for registration under this section must be—
(a)a body corporate or unincorporate,
(b)a person appointed to an office by virtue of any enactment, or
(c)an individual who employs others in the course of a business.
(5)A body applying for registration under this section must satisfy the Secretary of State that it—
(a)is likely to ask exempted questions, or
(b)is likely to countersign applications under section [F14113A or 113B] at the request of bodies or individuals asking exempted questions.
(6)A person, other than a body, applying for registration under this section must satisfy the Secretary of State that he is likely to ask exempted questions.
(7)In this section “exempted question” has the same meaning as in section [F16113A].]
Extent Information
E2This version of this provision extends to Scotland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales and Northern Ireland only
Textual Amendments
F14Words in s. 120(5)(b) substituted (1.4.2006 for S., 6.4.2006 for E.W., 3.12.2007 for N.I.) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(4)(e)(8), Sch. 14 para. 6(b); S.S.I. 2006/166, art. 2(1)(e); S.I. 2006/378, art. 7(c); S.I. 2007/3341, art. 2(d)
F16Word in s. 120(7) substituted (1.4.2006 for S., 6.4.2006 for E.W., 3.12.2007 for N.I.) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(4)(e)(8), Sch. 14 para. 6(c); S.S.I. 2006/166, art. 2(1)(e); S.I. 2006/378, art. 7(c); S.I. 2007/3341, art. 2(d)
F17Ss. 124A, 124B inserted (S.) (1.4.2006 for the insertion of s. 124A) by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 7), ss. 70(8), 89(2); S.S.I. 2006/168, art. 2
F18Words in s. 120(2) inserted (S.) (1.4.2006) by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 7), ss. 70(6)(a), 89(2); S.S.I. 2006/168, art. 2
F19Words in s. 120(2) repealed (11.1.2008) by Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 14), ss. 79(2), 101(2) (with ss. 90, 99); S.S.I. 2007/564, art. 2, sch.
F20S. 120(3)(aa)-(ac) inserted (S.) (1.4.2006) by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 7), ss. 70(6)(b), 89(2); S.S.I. 2006/168, art. 2
F21Words in s. 120(3)(b) substituted (1.4.2006 for S.) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(4)(e)(8), Sch. 14 para. 6(a); S.S.I. 2006/166, art. 2(1)(e); S.I. 2007/3341, art. 2(d)
Commencement Information
I2S. 120(3) in force at 19.3.2001 for E.W. and s. 120(1)(2)(4)-(7) in force at 1.5.2001 for E.W. by S.I. 2001/1097, art. 2
S. 120(3) in force at 1.1.2002 for S. and s. 120(1)(2)(4)-(7) in force at 1.2.2002 for S. by S.S.I. 2001/482, art. 2
120 Registered persons.N.I.
(1)For the purposes of this Part a registered person is a person who is listed in a register to be maintained by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Part.
[F2(2)[F22The ] Secretary of State shall include in the register any person who—
(a)applies to him in writing to be registered, [F23 and ]
(b)satisfies the conditions in subsections (4) to (6),F24...
F24(c)...]
[F25(2A)Subsection (2) is subject to—
(a)regulations under section 120ZA,
(b)section 120A, and
(c)section 120AA and regulations made under that section.]
F8( 3 ). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(4)A person applying for registration under this section must be—
(a)a body corporate or unincorporate,
(b)a person appointed to an office by virtue of any enactment, or
(c)an individual who employs others in the course of a business.
[F26(4A)An individual under the age of 18 applying for registration undersubsection (4)(b) or (c) must satisfy the Department that there is good reason for being registered.]
(5)A body applying for registration under this section must satisfy the Secretary of State that it—
(a)is likely to ask exempted questions, or
(b)is likely to [F27 act as the registered person in relation to ] applications under section [F14 113A or 113B ] at the request of bodies or individuals asking exempted questions.
(6)A person, other than a body, applying for registration under this section must satisfy the Secretary of State that he is likely to ask exempted questions.
(7)In this section “ exempted question ” has the same meaning as in section [F16113A] .
Extent Information
E3This version of this provision extends to Northern Ireland only; separate versions have been created for England and Wales and Scotland only
Textual Amendments
F2S. 120(2) substituted (6.4.2006 for E.W., 3.12.2007 for N.I.) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(3)(4), Sch. 35 para. 6(2); S.I. 2006/751, art. 2(c)(ii); S.I. 2007/3340, art. 2(b)
F8S. 120(3) repealed (29.1.2004 for E.W., 3.12.2007 for N.I.) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(3)(4), Sch. 35 para. 6(3), Sch. 37 Pt. 11; S.I. 2004/81, art. 4(1)(2)(p); S.I. 2007/3340, art. 2(b)
F14Words in s. 120(5)(b) substituted (1.4.2006 for S., 6.4.2006 for E.W., 3.12.2007 for N.I.) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(4)(e)(8), Sch. 14 para. 6(b); S.S.I. 2006/166, art. 2(1)(e); S.I. 2006/378, art. 7(c); S.I. 2007/3341, art. 2(d)
F16Word in s. 120(7) substituted (1.4.2006 for S., 6.4.2006 for E.W., 3.12.2007 for N.I.) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(4)(e)(8), Sch. 14 para. 6(c); S.S.I. 2006/166, art. 2(1)(e); S.I. 2006/378, art. 7(c); S.I. 2007/3341, art. 2(d)
F22Word in s. 120(2) substituted (N.I.) (2.11.2015) by Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 9), s. 106(2), Sch. 5 para. 10(2)(a); S.R. 2015/358, art. 2(m)(i)
F23Word in s. 120(2)(a) inserted (N.I.) (2.11.2015) by Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 9), s. 106(2), Sch. 5 para. 10(2)(b); S.R. 2015/358, art. 2(m)(i)
F24S. 120(2)(c) and word repealed (N.I.) (2.11.2015) by Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 9), s. 106(2), Sch. 5 para. 10(2)(c), Sch. 9 Pt. 3; S.R. 2015/358, art. 2(m)(i)
F25S. 120(2A) inserted (N.I.) (2.11.2015) by Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 9), s. 106(2), Sch. 5 para. 10(3); S.R. 2015/358, art. 2(m)(i)
F26S. 120(4A) inserted (N.I.) (2.11.2015) by Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 9), ss. 38(2), 106(2); S.R. 2015/358, art. 2(c)
F27Words in s. 120(5)(b) substituted (N.I.) (2.11.2015) by Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 9), s. 106(2), Sch. 5 para. 10(4); S.R. 2015/358, art. 2(m)(i)
Commencement Information
I3S. 120 in force at 3.12.2007 for N.I. by S.I. 2007/3342, art. 2(a)
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