Police Act 1996

Part I General Provisions

Continuity of the law

1 (1) The repeal (or revocation) and re-enactment of provisions in this Act does not affect the continuity of the law.

(2) Any subordinate legislation made or other thing done, or having effect as if done, under or for the purposes of any provision repealed and re-enacted by this Act shall, if in force or effective immediately before the commencement of the corresponding provision of this Act, have effect thereafter as if made or done under or for the purposes of that corresponding provision.

(3) Any reference (express or implied) in this Act or any other enactment or in any instrument or document—

(a) to any provision of this Act, or

(b) to things done or falling to be done under or for the purposes of any provision of this Act,

shall (so far as the context permits) be construed as including, in relation to times, circumstances or purposes in relation to which the corresponding provision repealed by this Act had effect, a reference—

(i) to that corresponding provision, or

(ii) to things done or falling to be done under or for the purposes of that corresponding provision,

as the case may be.

(4) Any reference (express or implied) in any enactment or in any instrument or document—

(a) to any provision repealed and re-enacted by this Act, or

(b) to things done or falling to be done under or for the purposes of any such provision,

shall (so far as the context permits) be construed as including, in relation to times, circumstances or purposes in relation to which the corresponding provision of this Act has effect, a reference—

(i) to that corresponding provision, or

(ii) to things done or falling to be done under or for the purposes of that corresponding provision,

as the case may be.

(5) Without prejudice to the generality of sub-paragraph (4), where a power conferred by an Act is expressed to be exercisable in relation to enactments contained in Acts passed before or in the same Session as the Act conferring the power, the power is also exercisable in relation to provisions of this Act which reproduce such enactments.

(6) Sub-paragraphs (1) to (5) have effect instead of section 17(2) of the [1978 c. 30.] Interpretation Act 1978 (but are without prejudice to any other provision of that Act).

(7) This paragraph is to be read subject to the provisions of any order made under section 104 or under paragraph 11 below.

General saving for old transitional provisions and savings

2 The repeal by this Act of any provision of Part II of Schedule 4 to the [1984 c. 60.] Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, or any other transitional provision or saving relating to the coming into force of a provision reproduced in this Act, does not affect the operation of the transitional provision or saving in so far as it is not specifically reproduced in this Act but remains capable of having effect in relation to the corresponding provision of this Act or otherwise.

3 The repeal by this Act of an enactment previously repealed subject to savings does not affect the continued operation of those savings.

Use of existing forms, etc.

4 Any reference to an enactment repealed by this Act which is contained in a document made, served or issued on or after the commencement of that repeal shall be construed, except so far as a contrary intention appears, as a reference or, as the context may require, as including a reference to the corresponding provision of this Act.