Police Act 1997

22 Collaboration agreements. U.K.

(1) If it appears to the Director General of NCIS and to—

(a) the chief officers of police of one or more police forces in England and Wales, or

(b) the chief constables of one or more police forces in Scotland, or

(c) the Chief Constable of the [F1 Police Service of Northern Ireland], or

(d) the Director General of the National Crime Squad,

that any police functions can more efficiently or effectively be discharged by members of NCIS and members of their respective forces or, as the case may be, the Squad acting jointly, they may, with the approval of the appropriate authorities, enter into an agreement for that purpose.

(2) For the purposes of this section, the “appropriate authorities” means the NCIS Service Authority and—

(a) in relation to an agreement entered by a chief officer of police of a police force in England and Wales, the police authority which maintains that force,

(b) in relation to an agreement entered by a chief constable of a police force in Scotland, the police authority which maintains that force or, as the case may be, the police authorities for the police areas comprised in a combined area,

(c) in relation to an agreement entered by the Chief Constable of the [F1 Police Service of Northern Ireland], the [F2 Northern Ireland Policing Board], and

(d) in relation to an agreement entered by the Director General of the National Crime Squad, the NCS Service Authority.

(3) In subsection (1) “police functions” includes the functions of NCIS and, in the case of an agreement entered by the Director General of the National Crime Squad, the functions of that Squad.

(4) If it appears to the NCIS Service Authority and to—

(a) one or more police authorities for areas in England and Wales, or

(b) one or more police authorities for areas (or combined areas) in Scotland, or

(c) the [F2 Northern Ireland Policing Board], or

(d) the NCS Service Authority,

that any premises, equipment or other material or facilities can with advantage be provided jointly for NCIS and the forces maintained by the authorities concerned or, as the case may be, the National Crime Squad, they may enter an agreement for that purpose.

(5) Any expenditure incurred under an agreement made under this section shall be borne—

(a) in the case of an agreement under subsection (1), by the appropriate authorities who approved it, and

(b) in the case of an agreement under subsection (4), by the parties to it,

in such proportions as they may agree or as may, in the absence of agreement, be determined by the Secretary of State.

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

(7) If it appears to the Secretary of State that any party should enter an agreement to which subsection (1), (4) or (6) applies, the Secretary of State may, after considering any representations made by the party concerned, direct the party to enter into such an agreement under those provisions as may be specified in the direction.

(8) The provisions of this section shall not prejudice the power of the NCIS Service Authority, any police authority, the [F2 Northern Ireland Policing Board] or the NCS Service 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 its functions.

[F3 (9) The Secretary of State shall obtain the consent of the Scottish Ministers before making any determination under subsection (5) or a direction under subsection (7) if the determination or direction would have any effect on, or apply to, a police force in Scotland or a police authority which maintains a police force in Scotland or, as the case may be, the police authorities for the police area comprised in a combined area in Scotland.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 22(1)(c)(2)(c) substituted (4.11.2001) by 2000 c. 32, s. 78(1), Sch. 6 para. 20(2)(b); S.R. 2001/396, art. 2, Sch.

F2 Words in s. 22(2)(c)(4)(c)(8) substituted (4.11.2001) by 2000 c. 32, s. 78(1), Sch. 6 para. 20(3); S.R. 2001/396, art. 2, Sch.

F3 S. 22(9) inserted (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1820, arts. 1(2), 4, Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 131(2); S.I. 1998/3178, art. 3

Commencement Information

I1 S. 22 wholly in force at 1.4.1998; s. 22 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 135; s. 22(4)-(8) in force at 31.10.1997 by S.I. 1997/2390, art. 2 (with arts. 3-7 (of which arts. 4-7 were revoked (1.4.1998) by S.I. 1998/354, art. 7)); s. 22 otherwise in force at 1.4.1998 by S.I. 1998/354, art. 2