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Police Act 1997, Section 94 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 31 August 2024. 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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(1)Subsection (2) applies where it is not reasonably practicable for an authorising officer to consider an application for an authorisation under section 93 and—
(a)if the authorising officer is within paragraph (b) [F1 , (e) or (f)] of section 93(5), it is also not reasonably practicable for the application to be considered by any of the other persons within the paragraph concerned; F2. . . [F3or]
(b)if the authorising officer is within paragraph (a) [F4or (c)] of section 93(5), it is also not reasonably practicable for the application to be considered by his designated deputy F5 ...
F5(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(2)Where this subsection applies, the powers conferred on the authorising officer by section 93 may, in an urgent case, be exercised—
(a)where the authorising officer is within paragraph (a) [F6or (d)] of subsection (5) of that section, by a person holding the rank of assistant chief constable in his force;
(b)where the authorising officer is within paragraph (b) of that subsection, by a person holding the rank of commander in the metropolitan police force;
(c)where the authorising officer is within paragraph (c) of that subsection, by a person holding the rank of commander in the City of London police force;
(d)where the authorising officer is within paragraph (e) of that subsection, by a person holding the rank of assistant chief constable in the [F7Police Service of Northern Ireland];
[F8(da)where the authorising officer is within paragraph (ea) of that subsection, by a person holding the rank of deputy or assistant chief constable in the Ministry of Defence Police;
(db)where the authorising officer is within paragraph (eb) of that subsection, by a person holding the position of assistant Provost Marshal in the [F9Royal Navy Police];
(dc)where the authorising officer is within paragraph (ec) or (ed) of that subsection, by a person holding the position of deputy Provost Marshal in the Royal Military Police or, as the case may be, in the Royal Air Force Police;
(dd)where the authorising officer is within paragraph (ee) of that subsection, by a person holding the rank of deputy or assistant chief constable in the F10British Transport Police;]
[F11(e)where the authorising officer is within paragraph (f) of that subsection, by a person designated for the purposes of this section by the Director General of the Serious Organised Crime Agency;]
(f)where the authorising officer is within paragraph (h) of that subsection, [F12by an officer of Revenue and Customs who is a senior official within the meaning of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and who is designated by the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs] for the purposes of this section.
[F13(fa)where the authorising officer is within paragraph (ha) of that subsection, by a senior official (within the meaning of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000) in the department of the Secretary of State by whom functions relating to immigration are exercisable who is designated by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this section;]
[F14(g)where the authorising officer is within paragraph (i) of that subsection, by an officer of the Office of Fair Trading designated by it for the purposes of this section.]
[F15(ga)where the authorising officer is within paragraph (ia) of that subsection, by a staff officer of the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner who is designated by the Commissioner for the purposes of this section.]
F16(h). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F17(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(4)In subsection (1), “designated deputy”—
[F18(a)in the case of an authorising officer within paragraph (a) of section 93(5), means—
(i)the person who is the appropriate deputy chief constable for the purposes of section 12A(1) of the Police Act 1996, or
(ii)the person holding the rank of assistant chief constable designated to act under section 12A(2) of that Act;]
F19(aa). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(b)in the case of an authorising officer within paragraph (c) of section 93(5), means the person authorised to act F20. . . under section 25 of the M1City of London Police Act 1839; F21. . .
F22(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F23(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F23(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F23(7). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 94(1)(a) substituted (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 98(2)(a); S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. para. 10
F2Word at the end of s. 94(1)(a) repealed (25.9.2000) by 2000 c. 23, s. 82(2), Sch. 5 (with s. 82(3)); S.I. 2000/2543, art. 2
F3Word in s. 94(1)(a) inserted (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 98(2)(b); S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. para. 10
F4Words in s. 94(1)(b) substituted (E.W.N.I.) (1.4.2013) by The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/602), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 6(3)(a); and (S.) (1.4.2013) by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 8), s. 129(2), sch. 7 para. 14(3)(a); S.S.I. 2013/51, art. 2 (with transitional provisions and savings in S.S.I. 2013/121)
F5S. 94(1)(c) and word repealed (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 98(2)(d), Sch. 17 Pt. 2; S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. paras. 10, 13(dd)
F6Words in s. 94(2)(a) repealed (S.) (1.4.2013) by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 8), s. 129(2), sch. 8 Pt. 1; S.S.I. 2013/51, art. 2 (with transitional provisions and savings in S.S.I. 2013/121)
F7Words in s. 94(2)(d) substituted (4.11.2001) by 2000 c. 32, s. 78(1), Sch. 6 para. 20(2)(b); S.R. 2001/396, art. 2, Sch.
F8S. 94(2)(da)-(dd) inserted (25.9.2000) by 2000 c. 23, s. 82(1), Sch. 4 para. 8(4)(a) (with s. 82(3)); S.I. 2000/2543, art. 2
F9Words in s. 94(2)(db) substituted (4.6.2007) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), s. 383(2), Sch. 16 para. 147; S.I. 2007/1442, art. 2(1)
F10S. 94 amended (1.7.2004) by Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (c. 20), Sch. 5 para. 4; S.I. 2004/1572, art. 3(jjj)
F11S. 94(2)(e) substituted for s. 94(2)(e)(ea) (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 98(3); S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. para. 10
F12Words in s. 94(2)(f) substituted (15.2.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), s. 94(1), Sch. 12 para. 2; S.I. 2008/219, art. 2(b)
F13S. 94(2)(fa) inserted (25.6.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(2), Sch. 21 para. 3 (with Sch. 20 para. 29); S.I. 2013/1042, art. 4(i)
F14S. 94(2)(g) inserted (20.6.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 200(3), 279; S.I. 2003/1397, art. 2(1), Sch.
F15S. 94(2)(ga) inserted (E.W.N.I.) (1.4.2013) by The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/602), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 6(3)(b); and (S.) (1.4.2013) by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 8), s. 129(2), sch. 7 para. 14(3)(b); S.S.I. 2013/51, art. 2 (with transitional provisions and savings in S.S.I. 2013/121)
F16S. 94(2)(h) repealed (S.) (1.4.2013) by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 8), s. 129(2), sch. 8 Pt. 1; S.S.I. 2013/51, art. 2 (with transitional provisions and savings in S.S.I. 2013/121)
F17S. 94(3) repealed (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 98(4), Sch. 17 Pt. 2; S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. paras. 10, 13(dd)
F18S. 94(4)(a) substituted (8.11.2006) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), s. 53(2), Sch. 14 para. 34
F19S. 94(4)(aa) repealed (S.) (1.4.2013) by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 8), s. 129(2), sch. 8 Pt. 1; S.S.I. 2013/51, art. 2 (with transitional provisions and savings in S.S.I. 2013/121)
F20Words in s. 94(4) repealed (25.9.2000) by 2000 c. 23, s. 82(2), Sch. 5 (with s. 82(3)); S.I. 2000/2543, art. 2
F21Word in s. 94(4) repealed (30.9.1998) by 1998 c. 37, s. 113(3), s. 120(2), Sch. 10; S.I. 1998/2327, art. 2
F22S. 94(4)(c) repealed (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 98(4), Sch. 17 Pt. 2; S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. paras. 10, 13(dd)
F23S. 94(5)-(7) repealed (S.) (1.4.2013) by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 8), s. 129(2), sch. 8 Pt. 1; S.S.I. 2013/51, art. 2 (with transitional provisions and savings in S.S.I. 2013/121)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 94 applied (prosp.) by 2000 c. 23, ss. 49, 83(2), Sch. 2 para. 2(7) (with s. 82(3))
C2S. 94 applied (1.10.2007) by Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (c. 23), s. 83(2), Sch. 2 para. 2(7) (with s. 82(3)); S.I. 2007/2196, art. 2(a)
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