163 Local authority powers to provide closed-circuit television.E+W+S
(1)Without prejudice to any power which they may exercise for those purposes under any other enactment, a local authority may take such of the following steps as they consider will, in relation to their area, promote the prevention of crime or the welfare of the victims of crime—
(a)providing apparatus for recording visual images of events occurring on any land in their area;
[F1(b)providing within their area an electronic communications service which is distributed—
(i)only to persons on a single set of premises; and
(ii)by an electronic communications network which is wholly within those premises and is not connected to an electronic communications network any part of which is outside those premises;]
(c)arranging for the provision of any other description of [F2electronic communications network or electronic communications service] within their area or between any land in their area and any building occupied by a public authority.
(2)Any power to provide, or to arrange for the provision of, any apparatus includes power to maintain, or operate, or, as the case may be, to arrange for the maintenance or operation of, that apparatus.
(3)Before taking such a step under this section, a local authority shall consult the chief officer of police for the police area [F3or, in Scotland, the local commander designated for the local authority’s area] in which the step is to be taken.
[F4(3A)For the purposes of subsection (1)(b)—
(a)a set of premises is a single set of premises if, and only if, the same person is the occupier of all the premises; and
(b)two or more vehicles are capable of constituting a single set of premises if, and only if, they are coupled together.]
(4)In this section—
F5...
“local authority”—
(a)in England, means a county council or district council;
(b)in Wales, means a county council or county borough council; and
(c)in Scotland, has the meaning given by section 235(1) of the M1Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973; and
[F6“local commander” has the meaning given by section 44 of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 8);]
[F7“premises” includes a vehicle; and
“ vehicle ” includes a vessel, aircraft or hovercraft. ]
(5)Until 1st April 1996, in this section “local authority” means, in Wales, a county council or district council.
Textual Amendments
F1S. 163(1)(b) substituted (25.7.2003 for specified purposes and 29.12.2003 for further specified purposes) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 406, 408, 411, Sch. 17 para. 130(2) (with transitional provisions in Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. 1 (with transitional provisions in art. 3 (as amended by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3))); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(2) (with art. 11)
F2Words in s. 163(1)(c) substituted (25.7.2003 for specified purposes and 29.12.2003 for further specified purposes) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 406, 408, 411, Sch. 17 para. 130(3) (with transitional provisions in Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. 1 (with transitional provisions in art. 3 (as amended by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3))); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(2) (with art. 11)
F3Words in s. 163(3) inserted (E.W.NI) (1.4.2013) by The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/602), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 4(3)(a) and words in s. 163(3) inserted (S.) (1.4.2013) by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 8), s. 129(2), sch. 7 para. 9(3)(a); S.S.I. 2013/51, art. 2 (with transitional provisions and savings in S.S.I. 2013/121)
F4S. 163(3A) inserted (25.7.2003 for specified purposes and 29.12.2003 for further specified purposes) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 406, 408, 411, Sch. 17 para. 130(4) (with transitional provisions in Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. 1 (with transitional provisions in art. 3 (as amended by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3))); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(2) (with art. 11)
F5Words in s. 163(4) omitted (E.W.NI.) (1.4.2013) by virtue of The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/602), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 4(3)(b)(i) and words in s. 163(4) repealed (S.) (1.4.2013) by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 8), s. 129(2), sch. 8 Pt. 1; S.S.I. 2013/51, art. 2 (with transitional provisions and savings in S.S.I. 2013/121)
F6Words in s. 163(4) inserted (E.W.NI.) (1.4.2013) by The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/602), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 4(3)(b)(ii) and words in s. 163(4) inserted (S.) (1.4.2013) by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 8), s. 129(2), sch. 7 para. 9(3)(b); S.S.I. 2013/51, art. 2 (with transitional provisions and savings in S.S.I. 2013/121)
F7S. 163(4): definition of substituted (25.7.2003 for specified purposes and 29.12.2003 for further specified purposes) by Communications Act 2003 (c. 21), ss. 406, 408, 411, Sch. 17 para. 130(5) (with transitional provisions in Sch. 18); S.I. 2003/1900, arts. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. 1 (with transitional provisions in art. 3 (as amended by S.I. 2003/3142, art. 1(3))); S.I. 2003/3142, art. 3(2) (with art. 11)
Marginal Citations