(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations make amendments to various instruments in consequence of the changes to policing governance made by Part 1 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (“the Act”).
The Act abolishes police authorities in England and Wales, outside London, and replaces them with police and crime commissioners. It also replaces the Metropolitan Police Authority with the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime. The Act makes no change to the role of the Common Council of the City of London as the police authority for the City of London police area. The Act amends the Interpretation Act 1978 with the effect that the words “local policing body” are defined as a police and crime commissioner, the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime and the Common Council in its capacity as a police authority.
The Act also establishes chief constables of police forces in England and Wales and the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (known collectively as chief officers of police) as corporations sole with the power to employ staff (previously all police staff were employees of the police authorities).
These Regulations amend the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Drug Testing of Persons in Police Detention) (Prescribed Persons) Regulations 2001, the Docking of Working Dogs’ Tails (England) Regulations 2007 and the Local Authorities (Alcohol Disorder Zones) Regulations 2008 in order to reflect the replacement of police authorities with local policing bodies, and the new arrangements for the employment of police staff.
The amendments made by these Regulations do not otherwise change the substantive effect of any of the instruments amended.