{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/police-act-1996/section-27",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/police-act-1996/section-27.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1996/16",
  "legislation_title": "Police Act 1996",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/police-act-1996",
  "path": "section/27",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "27",
  "heading": "Special constables.",
  "text": "(1) The chief officer of police of the police force maintained for a police area may, in accordance with regulations under section 51, appoint special constables for that area.\n(2) Subject to provision included in a collaboration agreement by virtue of section 23(4), section 24(3) and regulations under section 51, all special constables appointed for a police area shall be under the direction and control of, and subject to dismissal by, the chief officer of police.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 27(2) inserted (12.3.2010) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), s. 116(1), Sch. 7 para. 6; S.I. 2010/507, art. 4(c)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 27(2) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 26; S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 27(2) inserted (1.4.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), s. 53(1), Sch. 2 para. 23; S.I. 2007/709, art. 3(c) (with art. 6)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/16/section/27",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:32:17.766939+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}