Police Reform Act 2002

[F1 Duty to preserve evidence relating to DSI matters E+W

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 3 Pt. 2A (paras. 14A-14D) inserted (1.7.2005) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 160, 178, Sch. 12 para. 12; S.I. 2005/1521, art. 3(1)(w)

14B (1) Where— E+W

(a) a DSI matter comes to the attention of a [F2 local policing body] , and

(b) the relevant officer in relation to that matter is the chief officer of the force maintained by [F3 that body],

it shall be the duty of [F3 that body] to secure that all such steps as are appropriate for the purposes of Part 2 of this Act are taken, both initially and from time to time after that, for obtaining and preserving evidence relating to that matter.

(2) Where—

(a) a chief officer becomes aware of a DSI matter, and

(b) the relevant officer in relation to that matter is a person under his direction and control,

it shall be his duty to take all such steps as appear to him to be appropriate for the purposes of Part 2 of this Act for obtaining and preserving evidence relating to that matter.

(3) The chief officer's duty under sub-paragraph (2) must be performed as soon as practicable after he becomes aware of the matter in question.

(4) After that, he shall be under a duty, until he is satisfied that it is no longer necessary to do so, to continue to take the steps from time to time appearing to him to be appropriate for the purposes of Part 2 of this Act for obtaining and preserving evidence relating to the matter.

(5) It shall be the duty of a [F4 local policing body] to comply with all such directions as may be given to it by the [F5 Director General] in relation to the performance of any duty imposed on it by virtue of sub-paragraph (1).

(6) It shall be the duty of the chief officer to take all such specific steps for obtaining or preserving evidence relating to any DSI matter as he may be directed to take for the purposes of this paragraph by the [F6 local policing body] maintaining his force or by the [F5 Director General].]

Textual Amendments

F2 Words in Sch. 3 para. 14B(1) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 302(3)(a)(i); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F3 Words in Sch. 3 para. 14B(1) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 302(3)(a)(ii); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F4 Words in Sch. 3 para. 14B(5) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 302(3)(b); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

F5 Words in Sch. 3 substituted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 8.1.2018 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), s. 183(1)(5)(e), Sch. 9 para. 56(2) (with Sch. 9 para. 56(6)); S.I. 2017/1249, reg. 2 (with reg. 3)

F6 Words in Sch. 3 para. 14B(6) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 302(3)(c); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Sch. 3 para. 14B applied (with modifications) (28.12.2005) by virtue of The Revenue and Customs (Complaints and Misconduct) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/3311), reg. 3(4)(6), Sch. 3