Part 1Police reform

Police forces and police authorities

2Amendments to the Police Act 1996

Schedule 2 (which makes amendments to the Police Act 1996 (c. 16)) has effect.

3Delegation of police authority functions

1

Section 107 of the Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70) (application to police authorities of provisions about discharge of local authority functions) is amended as follows.

2

After subsection (3A) there is inserted—

3B

Section 101 above, in its application to a police authority, shall have effect as if a reference in subsection (1), (2), (4) or (5) to an officer of an authority included a reference to a member of that authority.

3

For subsection (4) there is substituted—

4

The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision regulating the power of a police authority under section 101 above to arrange for the discharge of their functions by a committee, sub-committee, officer or member of the authority as respects part only of their area.

4A

Regulations under subsection (4) may in particular—

a

impose limitations or restrictions on the functions which may be the subject of arrangements of the kind referred to in that subsection;

b

make provision as to the membership or chairmanship of any committee or sub-committee discharging functions under such arrangements;

c

impose limitations or restrictions on which officers or members of a police authority may discharge functions under such arrangements.

4B

A statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (4) shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

4

Subsection (6) (members of police authority committees must be authority members) is omitted.

4Police authorities as best value authorities

1

In section 1 of the Local Government Act 1999 (c. 27) (authorities that are best value authorities)—

a

in subsection (1), at the beginning of paragraph (d) there is inserted “(subject to subsection (8))”;

b

in subsection (4), for “subsection (1)(d)” there is substituted “this section”;

c

in subsection (6), at the beginning of paragraph (c) there is inserted “(subject to subsection (8))”;

d

after subsection (7) there is inserted—

8

A police authority is not a best value authority for the purposes of the following provisions of this Part—

  • section 5 (best value reviews);

  • section 6 (best value performance plans);

  • sections 7 to 9 (audit of best value performance plans);

  • section 13(5) (requirement of best value performance plan to record fact of adverse report etc);

  • section 15(2)(a) and (b) (directions relating to best value performance plans).

2

A reference in any provision contained in or made under any Act other than the Local Government Act 1999 (c. 27) to an authority that is a best value authority for the purposes of Part 1 of that Act includes, if the context allows, a police authority.