Section 12 Reports by chief constables to police authorities.C1

Every chief constable shall, as soon as possible after the end of each F1financial year, submit to the police authority a general report F2. . .on the policing during that year of the area for which his force is maintained.

A chief constable shall arrange for a report submitted by him under subsection (1) of this section to be published in such manner as he thinks fit.

The chief constable of a police force shall, whenever so required by the police authority, submit to that authority a report F4. . . on such matters as may be specified in the requirement, being matters connected with the policing of the area for which the force is maintained.

A report submitted under subsection (2) of this section shall be in such form as the police authority may specify.

If it appears to the chief constable that a report in compliance with any such requirement of the police authority would contain information which in the public interest ought not to be disclosed, or is not needed for the discharge of the functions of the police authority, he may request that authority to refer the requirement to the Secretary of State; and in any such case the requirement shall be of no effect unless it is confirmed by the Secretary of State.

The police authority may arrange, or require the chief constable to arrange, for a report under subsection (2) of this section to be published in such manner as the authority thinks fit.

This section applies to the City of London police force as if for references to the chief constable there were substituted references to the Commissioner.