Part I Organisation of Police Forces

The metropolitan police and forces outside London

8 Local policing plans.

(1)

Every police authority established under section 3 shall, before the beginning of each financial year, issue a plan setting out the proposed arrangements for the policing of the authority’s area during the year (the local policing plan).

(2)

The local policing plan shall include a statement of the authority’s priorities for the year, of the financial resources expected to be available and of the proposed allocation of those resources, and shall give particulars of—

(a)

any objectives determined by the Secretary of State under section 37,

(b)

any objectives determined by the authority under section 7, F1. . .

(c)

any performance targets established by the authority, whether in compliance with a direction under section 38 or otherwise F2, and

(d)

any action proposed for the purpose of complying with the requirements of Part I of the Local Government Act 1999 (best value).

F3(2A)

The local policing plan for any financial year must be consistent with any three-year strategy plan under section 6A which sets out the authority’s current strategies for the policing of its area during any period which includes the whole or any part of that financial year.

(3)

A draft of the local policing plan shall be prepared by the chief constable for the area and submitted by him to the police authority for it to consider.

(4)

Before issuing a local policing plan which differs from the draft submitted by the chief constable under subsection (3), a police authority shall consult the chief constable.

F4(4A)

It shall be the duty of a police authority and of a chief constable, in preparing, issuing or submitting any plan or draft plan under this section, to have regard to any general guidance given by the Secretary of State with respect to local policing plans and the drafts of such plans.

(4B)

Before giving any guidance under subsection (4A), the Secretary of State shall consult with—

(a)

persons whom he considers to represent the interests of police authorities;

(b)

persons whom he considers to represent the interests of chief officers of police; and

(c)

such other persons as he thinks fit.

(5)

A police authority shall arrange for every local policing plan issued by it under this section to be published in such manner as appears to it to be appropriate, and shall send a copy of the plan to the Secretary of State.

F5(6)

This section shall apply in relation to the Metropolitan Police Authority as it applies to a police authority established under section 3, but taking the references to the chief constable for the area as references to the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.