Police Act 1964

44 Police Federations. E+W+S

(1) There shall continue to be a Police Federation for England and Wales and a Police Federation for Scotland for the purpose of representing members of the police forces in England and Wales and in Scotland respectively in all matters affecting their welfare and efficiency, other than questions of discipline [F1 affecting individuals, except as provided by subsection (1A) below, and questions of] promotion affecting individuals.

[F2 (1A) A Police Federation may represent a member of a police force at any disciplinary proceedings or on an appeal from any such proceedings.

(1B) Except on an appeal to the Secretary of State or as provided by section 102 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, a member of a police force may only be represented under subsection (1A) above by another member of a police force.]

(2) The Police Federations shall act through local and central representative bodies; and the Police Federations and every branch thereof shall be entirely independent of, and [F3 subject to subsection (2A) of this section] unassociated with, any body or person outside the police service, but may employ persons outside the police service in an administrative or advisory capacity.

[F4 (2A) The Secretary of State from time to time may authorise a Police Federation or a branch thereof to be associated with a person or body outside the police service in such cases and manner, and subject to such conditions and restrictions, as he may specify and may vary or withdraw an authorisation previously given; and anything for the time being so authorised shall not be precluded by subsection (2) of this section.]

(3) The Secretary of State may by regulations prescribe the constitution and proceedings of the Police Federations [F5 or authorise the Federations to make rules concerning such matters relating to their constitution and proceedings as may be specified in the regulations] and, without prejudice to the generality of that power, regulations under this subsection may make provision—

(a) with respect to the membership of the Federations;

(b) with respect to the raising of funds by the Federations by voluntary subscription and the use and management of funds derived from such subscriptions;

(c) with respect to the manner in which representations may be made by committees or bodies of the Federations to police authorities, chief officers of police and the Secretary of State;

(d) for the payment by the Secretary of State of expenses incurred in connection with the Federations and for the use by the Federations of premises provided by police authorities for police purposes; and

(e) for modifying any regulations under the [F6 M1 Police Pensions Act 1976] under section 33 of this Act or under [F7 section 26 of the M2 Police (Scotland) Act 1967] in relation to any member of a police force who is the secretary or an officer of a Police Federation and for requiring the appropriate Federation to make contributions in respect of the pay, pension or allowances payable to or in respect of any such person.

(4) Regulations under this section may contain such supplementary and transitional provisions as the Secretary of State thinks fit, including provisions adapting references in any enactment (including this Act) to committees or other bodies of the Federations.

(5) Before making any regulations under this section the Secretary of State shall consult the three Central Committees of the Police Federation to which the regulations will relate, sitting together as a Joint Committee; and any statutory instrument containing such regulations shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(6) This section applies to police cadets as it applies to members of police forces, and references to the police service shall be construed accordingly.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words substituted by Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60, SIF 95), s. 109(a)

F2 S. 44(1A)(1B) inserted by Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60, SIF 95), s. 109(b)

F3 Words inserted by Police Act 1972 (c. 39), s. 1(2)

F4 Words inserted by Police Act 1972 (c. 39), s. 1(3)

F5 Words inserted by Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60, SIF 95), s. 109(c)

F6 Words substituted by virtue of Police Pensions Act 1976 (c. 35), s. 12(3)

F7 Words substituted by Police (Scotland) Act 1967 (c. 77), Sch. 4

Marginal Citations

M1 1976 c. 35

M2 1967 c. 77