OpenLegislation

Police Act 1996 in Scotland

1996 c. 16 · Enacted 22 May 1996 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 8 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 29 September 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
Sch. 1amendedPolice Act 1997 s. 129
Sch. 7 para. 1(2)(h) 21—Local Government Act 2000 Sch. 6
s. 89(2)words substitutedCriminal Justice Act 2003 Sch. 26 para. 47
Sch. 2A para. 7(1)words substitutedTribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 Sch. 16 para. 9(3)
Sch. 2 para. 11words substitutedTribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 Sch. 16 para. 9(2)
s. 97(7)words repealedCriminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 Sch. 22 para. 10(3) Sch. 28 Pt. 8
s. 97(6)(c)words repealedCriminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 Sch. 22 para. 10(2)(b) Sch. 28 Pt. 8
s. 97(6)(b)words repealedCriminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 Sch. 22 para. 10(2)(a) Sch. 28 Pt. 8

An Act to consolidate the Police Act 1964, Part IX of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, Chapter I of Part I of the Police and Magistrates’ Courts Act 1994 and certain other enactments relating to the police.

[22nd May 1996] E1

I1C1Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—C2C3

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act applied (6.11.2000) by 1998 c. 32, s. 51, Sch. 3 para. 8(8); S.R. 2000/399, art. 3 (with arts. 4-5)

Act: power to modify conferred (2.4.2001) by 2000 c. 39, s. 7(2); S.I. 2001/766, art. 2(1)(a) (with art. 3)

C2

Act applied (with modifications) (10.5.2021) by The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (Election of Mayor and Functions) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/112), arts. 1(4), 35(1)(2), Sch. 5 para. 10

C3

Act applied (with modifications) (21.3.2024) by The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (Election of Mayor and Transfer of Police and Crime Commissioner Functions) Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/414), arts. 1(2), 5, Sch. 1 para. 10

Commencement

I1

Act partly in force at 22.8.1996, partly prospective; see s.104; Act wholly in force at 1.4.1999 by S.I. 1999/533, arts. 2, 3

Extent

E1

For the extent of this Act see s.105

Contents

  1. Part I: Organisation of Police Forces
  2. ...
  3. The metropolitan police and forces outside London
  4. The City of London
  5. 6AZACommon Council to remain police authority for City
  6. 6ZAPower to confer particular functions on the Common Council
  7. 6ZBPlans by the Common Council
  8. 6ZCReports by the Common Council
  9. 8ALocal policing summaries Repealed
  10. Police ranks
  11. City of London
  12. 20AQuestions on metropolitan police matters at London Assembly meetings. Repealed
  13. 21Application of certain provisions to police authorities. Repealed
  14. ...
  15. General provisions
  16. 22ACollaboration agreements
  17. 22BDuty of chief officers to keep collaboration agreements under review
  18. 22CDuty of policing bodies to keep collaboration agreements under review
  19. 23AAForce collaboration provision about civilian employees
  20. 23FAPolice functions that must be the subject of force collaboration provision
  21. 23HCollaboration agreements: termination by Secretary of State
  22. 23HADecisions about efficiency or effectiveness
  23. 25Provision of special services.
  24. Amendment of names of police areas
  25. 31APower to amend names of police areas
  26. 35The Scilly Isles.
  27. 40CPower to give directions to College of Policing
  28. 40DPower to give directions to critical police undertakings
  29. 41APower to give directions as to action plans Repealed
  30. 41BProcedure for directions under section 41A Repealed
  31. 45Criminal statistics. Repealed
  32. 50ARegulations for police forces: ranks
  33. 50BRegulations under section 50A: procedure
  34. 52ARegulations about hours, leave or pay: consultation etc
  35. Civilian staff
  36. 53EGuidance about civilian staff employed by local policing bodies and chief officers
  37. 53FGuidance about designated police volunteers
  38. Inspectors of constabulary
  39. 56Assistant inspectors and staff officers.
  40. Central services
  41. 58Research.
  42. Part III: Police Representative Institutions
  43. 59Police Federations.
  44. 60Regulations for Police Federations.
  45. 60ASections 59 and 60: special provision for the Scottish Police Services Authority and the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency Repealed
  46. 61The Police Negotiating Board for the United Kingdom. Repealed
  47. 62Functions of the Board with respect to regulations. Repealed
  48. 63Police Advisory Board for England and Wales
  49. 64Membership of trade unions.
  50. Part 3A: The Police Remuneration Review Body
  51. 64AThe Police Remuneration Review Body
  52. 64BReports by the Police Remuneration Review Body
  53. Part IV: Complaints, disciplinary proceedings etc.
  54. Chapter ...
  56. Section Repealed
  57. Section Repealed
  58. Section Repealed
  59. Section Repealed
  60. Section Repealed
  61. Section Repealed
  62. Section Repealed
  63. Section Repealed
  64. Section Repealed
  65. Section Repealed
  66. Section Repealed
  67. Section Repealed
  68. Section Repealed
  69. Section Repealed
  70. Section Repealed
  71. Section Repealed
  72. 87AGuidance concerning conduct etc
  73. Part 4A: Police barred list and police advisory list
  74. Police barred list
  75. 88ADuty to report dismissals etc to College of Policing
  76. 88BDuty to maintain police barred list
  77. 88CEffect of inclusion in police barred list Repealed
  78. 88DApplication of section 88C to persons with mixed functions Repealed
  79. 88EProhibition on contractors using barred persons Repealed
  80. 88FRemoval from police barred list
  81. 88GPublication of information in police barred list
  82. 88HPower to disclose information in police barred list
  83. Police advisory list
  84. 88IDuty to report resignations and retirements etc to College of Policing
  85. 88JDuty to maintain police advisory list
  86. 88KEffect of inclusion in police advisory list Repealed
  87. 88LRemoval from police advisory list
  88. 88MPower to disclose information in police advisory list
  89. Part V: Miscellaneous and General
  90. 95ACharging of fees by College of Policing
  91. Miscellaneous
  92. 97APower to amend section 97
  93. 98Cross-border aid of one police force by another.
  94. 99Jurisdiction of metropolitan police officers.
  95. 100AAppointment of senior police officers as staff of College of Policing
  96. 100BDisclosure of information to College of Policing
  97. Supplemental
  98. 101Interpretation.
  99. 102Orders, rules and regulations.
  100. 103Consequential amendments, transitional provisions, repeals, etc.
  101. 104Commencement.
  102. 105Extent.
  103. 106Short title.
  104. Schedule 2: Police authorities established under section 3 Repealed
  105. Membership of police authorities Repealed
  106. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  107. Appointment of councillor members Repealed
  108. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  109. Appointment of other members Repealed
  110. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  111. Chairman and vice chairmen Repealed
  112. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  113. Standards committees Repealed
  114. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  115. Consultation Repealed
  116. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  117. Supplementary Repealed
  118. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  119. Interpretation Repealed
  120. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  121. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  122. Schedule 2A: The Metropolitan police authority Repealed
  123. Membership of Authority Repealed
  124. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  125. Appointment of members from London Assembly etc Repealed
  126. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  127. Appointment of other members Repealed
  128. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  129. Chairman and vice chairmen Repealed
  130. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  131. Standards committees Repealed
  132. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  133. Consultation Repealed
  134. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  135. Supplementary Repealed
  136. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  137. Interpretation Repealed
  138. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  139. Selection panels Repealed
  140. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  141. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  142. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  143. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  144. Functions of selection panel Repealed
  145. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  146. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  147. Secretary of State’s short-list Repealed
  148. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
  149. 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
  150. Schedule 3A: Police authorities: selection of lay justice members Repealed
  151. Lay justice selection panels Repealed
  152. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  153. Lay justice selection panels Repealed
  154. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  155. Lay justice selection panels Repealed
  156. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  157. Functions of lay justice selection panels Repealed
  158. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  159. Functions of lay justice selection panels Repealed
  160. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  161. Procedure if too few candidates short-listed Repealed
  162. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  163. Schedule 4Form of Declaration
  164. Schedule 4A: Further provision about Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary
  165. Delegation of functions
  166. 1Paragraph 1
  167. Inspection programmes and inspection frameworks
  168. 2Paragraph 2
  169. Inspections by other inspectors of organisations within remit of inspectors of constabulary
  170. 3Paragraph 3
  171. Co-operation
  172. 4Paragraph 4
  173. Joint action
  174. 5Paragraph 5
  175. Assistance for other public authorities
  176. 6Paragraph 6
  177. Powers of inspectors to obtain information etc
  178. 6AParagraph 6A
  179. Powers of inspectors to obtain access to police premises
  180. 6BParagraph 6B
  181. Failure to comply with notice under paragraph 6A or 6B
  182. 6CParagraph 6C
  183. Appeals against notices under paragraph 6A
  184. 6DParagraph 6D
  185. Sensitive information: restriction on further disclosure
  186. 6EParagraph 6E
  187. Provision of sensitive information to inspectors
  188. 6FParagraph 6F
  189. Orders under this Schedule
  190. 7Paragraph 7
  191. Schedule 4B: The Police Remuneration Review Body
  192. Interpretation
  193. 1Paragraph 1
  194. Members of the review body
  195. 2Paragraph 2
  196. 3Paragraph 3
  197. 4Paragraph 4
  198. Resignation of members
  199. 5Paragraph 5
  200. 6Paragraph 6
  201. 7Paragraph 7
  202. Dismissal of members
  203. 8Paragraph 8
  204. 9Paragraph 9
  205. 10Paragraph 10
  206. Procedure
  207. 11Paragraph 11
  208. Matters to be considered
  209. 12Paragraph 12
  210. Consultation
  211. 13Paragraph 13
  212. Publication
  213. 14Paragraph 14
  214. Money
  215. 15Paragraph 15
  216. Schedule 5: The Police Complaints Authority Repealed
  217. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  218. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  219. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  220. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  221. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  222. Staff Repealed
  223. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  224. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  225. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  226. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  227. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
  228. 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
  229. Police appeals tribunals
  230. 2AParagraph 2A
  231. Notice of appeal
  232. 3Paragraph 3
  233. Respondent
  234. 4Paragraph 4
  235. Casting vote
  236. 5Paragraph 5
  237. Hearing
  238. Effect of orders
  239. Remuneration and expenses
  240. 8Paragraph 8
  241. Parties’ costs: appeals by officer concerned
  242. Parties’ costs: appeals by chief officer of police or local policing body
  243. 9AParagraph 9A
  244. Parties’ costs: appeals by IOPC
  245. 9BParagraph 9B
  246. Other costs of appeals
  247. 9CParagraph 9C
  248. Interpretation
  249. Schedule 7: Consequential amendments
  250. Part I: References to police authorities established under section 3 of Police Act 1964
  251. 1Paragraph 1
  252. Part II: Other consequential amendments
  253. Pedlars Act 1871 (c. 96)
  254. 2Paragraph 2
  255. 3Paragraph 3
  256. 4Paragraph 4
  257. 5Paragraph 5
  258. 6Paragraph 6
  259. Parks Regulation Act 1872 (c. 15)
  260. 7Paragraph 7
  261. 8Paragraph 8
  262. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  263. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  264. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  265. 12Paragraph 12
  266. Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1967 (c. 28)
  267. 13Paragraph 13
  268. Police (Scotland) Act 1967 (c. 77)
  269. 14Paragraph 14
  270. 15Paragraph 15
  271. Firearms Act 1968 (c. 27)
  272. 16Paragraph 16
  273. Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 (c. 56)
  274. 18Paragraph 18
  275. Superannuation Act 1972 (c. 11)
  276. 19Paragraph 19
  277. 20Paragraph 20
  278. Overseas Pensions Act 1973 (c. 21)
  279. 22Paragraph 22
  280. House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 24)
  281. 24Paragraph 24
  282. 25Paragraph 25
  283. 26Paragraph 26
  284. Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (c. 65)
  285. Police Pensions Act 1976 (c.35)
  286. 28Paragraph 28 Repealed
  287. 29Paragraph 29
  288. 30Paragraph 30
  289. Race Relations Act 1976 (c. 74)
  290. 31Paragraph 31 Repealed
  291. Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30)
  292. 32Paragraph 32
  293. Finance Act 1981 (c. 35)
  294. 33Paragraph 33
  295. 34Paragraph 34
  296. 35Paragraph 35
  297. 36Paragraph 36
  298. 37Paragraph 37 Repealed
  299. 38Paragraph 38
  300. 39Paragraph 39
  301. 40Paragraph 40
  302. Ministry of Defence Police Act 1987 (c. 4)
  303. 41Paragraph 41
  304. Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990 (c. 31)
  305. 43Paragraph 43
  306. Local Government Act 1992 (c. 19)
  307. 44Paragraph 44
  308. Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1992 (c. 53)
  309. 45Paragraph 45
  310. 46Paragraph 46
  311. Criminal Appeal Act 1995 (c.35)
  312. 47Paragraph 47
  313. Schedule 8: Transitional provisions, savings etc.
  314. Part I: General Provisions
  315. Continuity of the law
  316. 1Paragraph 1
  317. General saving for old transitional provisions and savings
  318. 2Paragraph 2
  319. 3Paragraph 3
  320. Use of existing forms, etc.
  321. 4Paragraph 4
  322. Part II: Provisions relating to particular enactments
  323. Pedlars Act 1871
  324. 5Paragraph 5
  325. Savings relating to the Police Act 1964
  326. 7Paragraph 7
  327. 8Paragraph 8
  328. 9Paragraph 9
  329. 10Paragraph 10
  330. Part III: Provisions relating to complaints and discipline
  331. Modification of enactments pending commencement of new discipline procedures
  332. 11Paragraph 11
  333. 12Paragraph 12
  334. 13Paragraph 13
  335. Schedule 9: Repeals and revocations
  336. IRepeals: general
  337. IIRepeals consequential on new discipline and complaints procedures
  338. IIIRevocations
  339. 1Notes:
  340. 2Paragraph 2