PART 3The election campaign

Publicity

Broadcasting of local items during election54.

(1)

Each broadcasting authority must adopt a code of practice with respect to the participation of candidates at a PCC election in items about the police area in question which are included in relevant services during the election period.

(2)

The code for the time being adopted by a broadcasting authority under this article must be either—

(a)

a code drawn up by that authority, whether on their own or jointly with one or more other broadcasting authorities, or

(b)

a code drawn up by one or more other such authorities,

and a broadcasting authority must from time to time consider whether the code for the time being so adopted by them should be replaced by a further code falling within sub-paragraph (a) or (b).

(3)

Before drawing up a code under this article a broadcasting authority must have regard to any views expressed by the Commission for the purposes of this paragraph; and any such code may make different provision for different cases.

(4)

The Office of Communications must do all that they can to secure that the code for the time being adopted under this article is observed in the provision of relevant services; and the British Broadcasting Corporation and Sianel Pedwar Cymru must each observe in the provision of relevant services the code so adopted by them.

(5)

For the purposes of paragraph (1), “the election period”, in relation to a PCC election, means the period beginning with the last date for publication of notice of the election and ending with the close of the poll.

(6)

In this article—

“broadcasting authority” means the British Broadcasting Corporation, the Office of Communications or Sianel Pedwar Cymru;

“candidate”, in relation to a PCC election, means a candidate standing nominated at the election;

“relevant services”—

(a)

in relation to the British Broadcasting Corporation or Sianel Pedwar Cymru, means services broadcast by that body;

(b)

in relation to the Office of Communications, means services licensed under Part 1 or 3 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 M1 or Part 1 or 2 of the Broadcasting Act 1996 M2.