Police Reform Act 2002

43 Railway safety accreditation scheme E+W

(1) The Secretary of State may make regulations for the purpose of enabling the chief constable of the British Transport Police Force to establish and maintain a scheme (“a railway safety accreditation scheme”).

[F1 (2) A railway safety accreditation scheme is a scheme for the exercise, within a place specified in section 31(1)(a) to (f) of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 in England and Wales, by persons accredited by the chief constable of the British Transport Police Force under the scheme, of the powers conferred on those persons by their accreditation under that scheme.]

(3) The regulations may make provision—

(a) as to the purposes for which a railway safety accreditation scheme may be established;

(b) as to the procedure to be followed in the establishment of such a scheme; and

(c) as to matters for which such a scheme must contain provision.

(4) The regulations may make provision as to the descriptions of persons who may be accredited under a railway safety accreditation scheme and as to the procedure and criteria to be applied for the grant of any accreditation under such a scheme.

(5) The regulations may make provision as to the powers which may be conferred on a person by an accreditation under such a scheme.

(6) Subject to subsection (7), no regulations made by virtue of subsection (5) shall permit a power to be conferred on a person accredited under a railway safety accreditation scheme which could not be conferred on an accredited person under a community safety accreditation scheme.

(7) The regulations may provide that the powers which may be conferred on a person by an accreditation under a railway safety accreditation scheme include the powers of a constable F2 ... to give a penalty notice under Chapter 1 of Part 1 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 (fixed penalty notices) in respect of the following offences—

(a) an offence under section 55 of the British Transport Commission Act 1949 (c. xxix) (trespassing on a railway);

(b) an offence under section 56 of that Act (throwing stones etc. at trains or other things on railways).

(8) In relation to a person accredited under a railway safety accreditation scheme, the regulations may apply, with such modifications as may be prescribed by them, any provision of this Chapter which applies in relation to an accredited person.

(9) Before making regulations under this section the Secretary of State shall consult with—

(a) [F3 the National Police Chiefs' Council];

(b) the chief constable of the British Transport Police Force;

[F4 (c) such persons as appear to the Secretary of State to represent the views of police and crime commissioners;

(ca) the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime;

(cb) the Common Council of the City of London; and]

(d) the [F5 British Transport Police Authority] ;

(e) persons whom he considers to represent the interests of local authorities;

(f) the Mayor of London; and

(g) such other persons as he thinks fit.

(10) In this section—

• “local authorities” means district councils, London borough councils, county councils in Wales, county borough councils and the Common Council of the City of London; and

• F6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 43(2) substituted (1.7.2004) by The British Transport Police (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1573), art. 12(7)(a)

F2 Words in s. 43(7) omitted (8.4.2013) by virtue of Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), s. 151(1), Sch. 23 para. 14(2); S.I. 2013/453, art. 4(e)

F3 Words in s. 43(9)(a) substituted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 3.4.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), s. 183(1)(5)(e), Sch. 14 paras. 6, 7(e); S.I. 2017/399, reg. 2, Sch. para. 41

F4 S. 43(9)(c)-(cd) substituted for s. 43(9)(c) (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 297; S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1 (with Sch. 2 para. 69)

F5 Words in s. 43(9)(d) substituted (1.7.2004) by The British Transport Police (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1573), art. 12(7)(b)

F6 S. 43(10): definition of "policed premises" repealed (1.7.2004) by The British Transport Police (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1573), art. 12(7)(c)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 43 amended (1.7.2004) by Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (c. 20), ss. 73, 120, Sch. 5 para. 4 (with s. 72); S.I. 2004/1572, art. 3(jjj)