Part I Organisation of Police Forces

Police areas, police authorities and police forces

3 Establishments of police forces.

(1)

A police force shall consist of a chief constable and—

(a)

permanent and probationary whole-time constables (hereafter in this Act referred to as “regular constables”), and

(b)

part-time constables (hereafter in this Act referred to as “special constables”),

not exceeding such number in each case as may from time to time be authorised by the police authority with the consent of the Secretary of State, and may in addition include temporary whole-time constables (hereafter in this Act referred to as “temporary constables”) not exceeding such number as may be so authorised.

(2)

In determining the number of regular constables to be authorised under subsection (1) of this section for a police force the police authority shall take no account of the number of special or temporary constables authorised or to be authorised for that force.

(3)

The chief constable of a police force may maintain lists of persons who undertake to hold themselves available for appointment, in such circumstances as may be specified in the undertaking, as temporary constables of the force, and may arrange for such persons, with their consent, to receive from time to time training in the functions of constables in accordance with such conditions as may be prescribed.