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Police Act 1996
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- UK Public General Acts
- 1996 c. 16
- Part II
- Central services
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Changes over time for: Cross Heading: Central services
Version Superseded: 01/04/2007
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Police Act 1996, Cross Heading: Central services is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 27 February 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
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Central servicesE+W
57 Common services.E+W
(1)The Secretary of State may provide and maintain, or may contribute to the provision or maintenance of, such organisations, facilities and services as he considers necessary or expedient for promoting the efficiency or effectiveness of the police.
(2)Charges may be made for the use of facilities and services provided by the Secretary of State (or by organisations provided or maintained by him) under subsection (1).
(3)The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for requiring all police forces in England and Wales to use specified facilities or services, or facilities or services of a specified description, (whether or not provided under subsection (1)) if he considers that it would be in the interests of the efficiency or effectiveness of the police for them to do so.
[F1(3A)Regulations under this section relating to all police forces may also require the [F2Serious Organised Crime Agency] to use the specified facilities or services, or the facilities or services of a specified description, if the Secretary of State considers that it would be in the interests of the efficiency or effectiveness of the [F3Agency for the Agency ] to do so.]
(4)Before making regulations under this section, the Secretary of State shall consult—
(a)persons whom he considers to represent the interests of police authorities, and
(b)persons whom he considers to represent the interests of chief officers of police [F4, and.
[F5(c)if the regulations relate to the Serious Organised Crime Agency, that Agency.]
[F6(5)The Secretary of State shall consult the Police Information Technology Organisation before making regulations under this section relating to information technology.
(6)In subsection (5) “information technology” includes any computer or other technology by means of which information or other matter may be recorded or communicated without being reduced to documentary form.]]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 57(3A) inserted (1.4.1998) by 1997 c. 50, s. 134(1), Sch. 9 para. 78(2); S.I. 1998/354, art. 2(2)(ay)
F2Words in s. 57(3A) substituted (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 73(2)(a); S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. para. 10
F3Words in s. 57(3A) substituted (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 73(2)(b); S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. para. 10
F4S. 57(4)(c) and the preceding “and" added (1.4.1998) by 1997 c. 50, s. 134(1), Sch. 9 para. 78(3); S.I. 1998/354, art. 2(2)(ay)
F5S. 57(4)(c) substituted (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 73(3); S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. para. 10
F6S. 57(5)(6) added (1.4.1998) by 1997 c. 50, s. 134(1), Sch. 9 para. 78(4); S.I. 1998/354, art. 2(2)(ay)
58 Research.E+W
The Secretary of State may set up such bodies and take such other steps as appear to him to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of undertaking research into matters affecting the efficiency or effectiveness of the police.
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