Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014

Valid from 13/05/2014

153 Use of amplified noise equipment in vicinity of the Palace of Westminster E+W

(1) The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 is amended as follows.

(2) After section 142 there is inserted—

“142A Other controlled areas in vicinity of the Palace of Westminster

(1) For the purposes of this Part, the “Palace of Westminster controlled area” means the area of land in the City of Westminster that is comprised in—

(a) the highways in the postal district SW1 known as—

(i) Bridge Street,

(ii) St Margaret's Street, and

(iii) Abingdon Street,

(b) so much of the highway in the postal district SW1 known as Great College Street as immediately adjoins Abingdon Street Garden,

(c) Old Palace Yard,

(d) Abingdon Street Garden (and its pathways), and

(e) Victoria Tower Gardens.

(2) In subsection (1)—

• “Abingdon Street Garden” means the garden constructed on the sites of properties formerly known as 18 to 28 (both inclusive) Abingdon Street, London, SW1, together with the garden surrounding the adjoining Jewel Tower and the lawn surrounding the King George V Memorial;

• “highway” has the same meaning as in the Highways Act 1980 (see section 328 of that Act);

• “Old Palace Yard” includes the King George V Memorial.”

(3) In section 143 (prohibited activities in controlled area of Parliament Square)—

(a) in the heading, at the end there is inserted “or in Palace of Westminster controlled area”;

(b) in subsection (2)(a), after “Parliament Square” there is inserted “ or in the Palace of Westminster controlled area ”.

(4) In section 144 (directions under section 143: further provision), in subsection (5), after “Parliament Square” there is inserted “ , or the Palace of Westminster controlled area, ”.

(5) In section 145 (power to seize property)—

(a) in subsection (1), at the end there is inserted “in that area”;

(b) after that subsection there is inserted—

“(1A) A constable or authorised officer may seize and retain a prohibited item that is on any land in the Palace of Westminster controlled area if it appears to that constable or officer that the item is being, or has been, used in connection with the commission of an offence under section 143 in that area.”;

(c) in subsection (2), at the end there is inserted “in that area”;

(d) after that subsection there is inserted—

“(2A) A constable may seize and retain a prohibited item that is on any land outside of the Palace of Westminster controlled area if it appears to the constable that the item has been used in connection with the commission of an offence under section 143 in that area.”;

(e) in subsection (8), for “subsections (1) and (2)” there is substituted “ this section ”.

(6) In section 146 (power of court on conviction)—

(a) in subsection (1)(b), for “the controlled area of Parliament Square” there is substituted “ a relevant area ”;

(b) in subsection (2), for “the controlled area of Parliament Square” there is substituted “ a relevant area ”;

(c) after that subsection there is inserted—

“(2A) In this section “relevant area” means an area consisting of either or both of the following areas—

(a) the controlled area of Parliament Square, and

(b) the Palace of Westminster controlled area.”

(7) In section 147 (authorisation for operation of amplified noise equipment), in subsection (1)—

(a) after “Parliament Square” there is inserted “ or the Palace of Westminster controlled area ”;

(b) after “that land” there is inserted “ (or any part of it) ”.

(8) In section 148 (meaning of “authorised officer” and “responsible authority”)—

(a) in subsection (2), after “Parliament Square” there is inserted “ , or in relation to any land in the Palace of Westminster controlled area other than Royal Park land, ”;

(b) after subsection (3) there is inserted—

“(4) Responsible authority”, in relation to any land in the Palace of Westminster controlled area, means—

(a) the Secretary of State, for any land comprised in Royal Park land;

(b) Westminster City Council, for any other land.

(5) In this section “Royal Park land” means any land of a description specified in Schedule 1 to the Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces Regulations 1997 (S.I. 1997/1639), as that Schedule has effect on the day on which the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 is passed.”

(9) In section 149 (effect of Part on byelaws), in subsection (3), after “Parliament Square” there is inserted “ or the Palace of Westminster controlled area ”.

(10) In the italic cross-heading before section 142, for “Garden and adjoining pavements” there is substituted “ etc ”.

(11) In the heading of Part 3, for “Garden and surrounding area” there is substituted “ etc ”.