Part 1Police reform

Police co-operation

I16Authorisations to interfere with property etc

1

Section 93 of the Police Act 1997 (c. 50) (rules for grant of authorisations) is amended as follows.

2

In subsection (3) after “application made—” insert—

za

if the authorising officer is within subsection (5)(a) to (c)—

i

by a member of the officer's police force; or

ii

in a case where the chief officer of police of that force (“the authorising force”) has made an agreement under section 23(1) of the Police Act 1996 with the chief officer of police of one or more other police forces, by a member of a collaborative force;

3

In subsection (3)(a), for “subsection (5)(a)” substitute “ subsection (5)(d) ”.

4

After subsection (3) insert—

3A

For the purposes of subsection (3)(za)(ii)—

a

a police force is a collaborative force if—

i

its chief officer of police is a party to the agreement mentioned in that provision; and

ii

its members are permitted by the terms of the agreement to make applications for authorisations under this section to the authorising officer of the authorising force; and

b

a reference to a police force is to the following—

i

any police force maintained under section 2 of the Police Act 1996 (police forces in England and Wales outside London);

ii

the metropolitan police force; and

iii

the City of London police force.

5

In subsection (6)—

a

in paragraph (a), after “subsection (5)” insert “ to whom an application is made by virtue of subsection (3)(za)(i) ”;

b

after paragraph (a) insert—

aa

in relation to a person within any of those paragraphs to whom an application is made by virtue of subsection (3)(za)(ii), means the area in England and Wales—

i

for which any collaborative force (within the meaning of subsection (3A)) is maintained; and

ii

which is specified in relation to members of that force in the agreement mentioned in subsection (3)(za)(ii);

c

in paragraph (b), for “that subsection” substitute “ subsection (5) ”.