Police Act 1996

23 Collaboration agreements. E+W

(1) If it appears to the chief officers of police of two or more police forces that any police functions can more efficiently or effectively be discharged by members of those forces acting jointly, they may, with the approval of the police authorities which maintain those forces, make an agreement for that purpose.

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

(3) 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 the absence of agreement, be determined by the Secretary of State.

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

(5) If it appears to the Secretary of State that an agreement should be made under subsection (1), (2) or (4), he may, after considering any representations made by the parties concerned, direct those parties to enter into such an agreement under those provisions as may be specified in the direction.

[F1 (6) In subsection (1)—

(a) the reference to members of a police force includes a reference to special constables appointed for the area for which that force is maintained, and

(b) the reference to police functions includes a reference to functions with respect to training and the provision of opportunities for professional development.]

(7) The provisions of this section shall not prejudice the power of a police authority to act jointly, or co-operate in any other way, with any person where to do so is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the discharge of any of the authority’s functions.

[F2 (7A) For the purposes of this section—

(a) the British Transport Police Force shall be treated as if it were a police force,

(b) the Chief Constable of that Force shall be treated as if he were the chief officer of police of that Force,

(c) “police functions” shall include the functions of the British Transport Police Force, and]

[F3 (d) the British Transport Police Authority shall be treated as if it were the police authority maintaining that Force for the purposes of subsections (1), (2), (3), and (7).]

[F4 (8) For the purposes of this section, the Service Authority for the National Crime Squad, the National Crime Squad and the Director General of that Squad shall be treated as if they were a police authority, the police force maintained by that authority and the chief officer of police of that force respectively, and the reference in subsection (1) to “police functions” shall include the functions of that Squad.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 23(6) substituted (1.4.2002) by 2001 c. 16, ss. 99, 138(2); S.I. 2002/533, art. 2(a)

F2 S. 23(7A) inserted (14.12.2001) by 2001 c. 24, ss. 101, 127(2)(f), Sch. 7 para. 21

F3 S. 23(7A)(d) substituted (1.7.2004) by The British Transport Police (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1573), arts. 1, 12(4)(a)

F4 S. 23(8) added (31.10.1997) by 1997 c. 50, s. 134(1), Sch. 9 para. 73; S.I. 1997/2390, art. 2(2)(u)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 23 amended (1.7.2004) by Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (c. 20), Sch. 5 para. 4; S.I. 2004/1572, art. 3(jjj)