If it appears to the chief constable of a police force that the resources of the force are insufficient to meet any particular circumstances he may apply for assistance to the chief constable of any other police force, who may thereupon arrange for such assistance to be given from the resources of that other force as in his opinion the circumstances of that other force permit.

If it appears to the F1appropriate Minister or Ministers to be expedient in the interests of public safety or order that any police force should be reinforced or should receive other assistance for the purpose of enabling it to meet any special demand on its resources, and that satisfactory arrangements under subsection (1) of this section cannot be made, or cannot be made in time, he F1or they may direct the chief constable of any police force to provide such constables or other assistance for that purpose as may be specified in the directions.

A copy of any directions given to the chief constable of any police force under subsection (2) of this section shall be sent to the police authority for the area for which that force is maintained and shall be binding on them so far as it affects their functions in relation to that force.

The cost of any assistance given under any of the foregoing provisions of this section from the resources of a police force shall be divided between the police authorities concerned in such manner as may be agreed between them, or, in default of such agreement, as may be provided by any agreement subsisting at the time between all police authorities generally, or, in default of any agreement, as may be directed by the F2appropriate Ministers.

This section shall apply in relation to the F15British Transport Police Authority and the British Transport Police Force as it applies to a police authority and a police force respectively.

If it appears to the chief constables of two or more police forces that any police functions can more efficiently be discharged by constables of those forces acting jointly, they may, with the approval of the police authorities for the areas for which those forces are maintained, make an agreement for that purpose.

If it appears to the police authorities for any two or more police areas that any premises, equipment or other material or facilities can with advantage be provided jointly for the police forces maintained for those areas, they make an agreement for that purpose.

Any expenditure incurred under an agreement made under this section shall be borne by the police authorities in such proportions as they may agree or as may, in default of agreement, be determined by the F4Scottish Ministers.

An agreement under subsection (1) or subsection (2) of this section may be varied or determined by a subsequent agreement.

If it appears to the Scottish Ministers that an agreement should be made for the purposes specified in subsection (1), (2) or (4) of this section, they may, after considering any representations made by the parties concerned, direct those parties to enter into such agreement for that purpose as may be specified in the directions.

In relation to agreements relating to the British Transport Police Force, any determination under subsection (3) shall be made, and any directions under subsection (5) shall be given, by the Scottish Ministers and the Secretary of State, acting jointly.

The power conferred on a police authority by subsection (1) of this section includes a power to make arrangements under which a constable of the force maintained for the area of the authority is engaged for a period of temporary service with a person or body within paragraph (a) or (b) of that subsection.

The power conferred by subsection (1) of this section shall not be exercised except with the consent of the Secretary of State or in accordance with a general authorisation given by him.

A consent or authorisation under subsection (3) above may be given subject to such conditions as the Secretary of State thinks fit.

A police authority may make charges for advice and assistance provided by it under this section.

The provisions of this section are without prejudice to the M1Police (Overseas Service) Act 1945 and section 10 of the M2Overseas Development and Co-operation Act 1980.

The police authority for any police area may enter into an agreement with the occupier of any premises or land in the area, on such terms as may be specified in the agreement, for the guarding, patrolling and watching of the premises or land by constables of the police force maintained for the area.

The power conferred upon a police authority by subsection (1) of this section may be delegated by them, subject to such limitations and conditions as may be specified in the delegation, to the chief constable of the police force.

Where such arrangements as are mentioned in subsection (1) of this section have been made, the police authority may recover from the occupier of the land (or, if the occupier proves that some other person is responsible for the construction of the works, from that other person) such sums representing the cost necessarily incurred in each year in pursuance of the arrangements as may be agreed, or as may be fixed by a single arbiter appointed (in default of agreement as to the appointment) by the F8sheriff principal.

The provisions of this section shall be without prejudice to the provisions of section 17(3) of this Act.

In this section F8sheriff principal does not include a F8sheriff.

The chief constable of a police force shall before 31st F9July in each year submit to the police authority a F10report in writing on such matters as the Secretary of State may prescribe as respects, and generally as respects, the policing, during the F11twelve months ending on 31st March in that year, of the area for which the force is maintained, and shall send a copy of the report to each of the other authorities specified in subsection (3) of this section.

Subject to the following provisions of this section, the chief constable of a police force shall, whenever required by any of the authorities specified in subsection (3) of this section, submit to that authority a report on such matters as may be so required, being matters connected with the policing of the area for which the force is maintained.

The authorities referred to in subsections (1) and (2) of this section are—

• the Secretary of State,

• the F12sheriff principal having jurisdiction in any part of the area . . . F13

• the police authority.

If it appears to the chief constable that a report in compliance with a requirement made by the police authority in pursuance of subsection (2) of this section would contain information which in the public interest ought not to be disclosed, or is not needed for the discharge of the functions of the police authority, he may, after consultation with the police authority, refer the requirement to the Secretary of State; and in any such case the requirement shall be of no effect unless it is confirmed by the Secretary of State.

Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this section shall require a chief constable to submit . . . F13 to any F12sheriff principal a report on matters which are not connected with the policing, . . . F13 of places in which the F12sheriff principal has jurisdiction.

In this section F12sheriff principal does not include a F12sheriff.