{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/police-act-1996/section-53",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/police-act-1996/section-53.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1996/16",
  "legislation_title": "Police Act 1996",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/police-act-1996",
  "path": "section/53",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "53",
  "heading": "Regulations as to standard and provision of equipment.",
  "text": "(1) The Secretary of State may make regulations requiring equipment provided or used for police purposes to satisfy such requirements as to design and performance as may be prescribed in the regulations.\n(1A) The Secretary of State may by regulations make any or all of the following provisions—\n(a) provision requiring one or more police forces, when using equipment for the purposes specified in the regulations to use only—\n(i) the equipment which is specified in the regulations;\n(ii) equipment which is of a description so specified; or\n(iii) equipment which is of a type approved by the Secretary of State in accordance with the regulations;\n(b) provision requiring one or more police forces to keep available for use the equipment falling within paragraph (a)(i) to (iii) which is specified or described in, or approved in accordance with, the regulations;\n(c) provision prohibiting one or more police forces from using equipment of a type approved as mentioned in paragraph (a)(iii) except—\n(i) where the conditions subject to which the approval was given are satisfied; and\n(ii) in accordance with the other terms of that approval;\n(d) provision requiring equipment used by one or more police forces to comply, in the case of all police forces, with such conditions as may be specified in the regulations, or as may be approved by the Secretary of State in accordance with the regulations;\n(e) provision prohibiting one or more police forces from using equipment specified in the regulations, or any equipment of a description so specified.\n(1AA) The Secretary of State may, by regulations, make provision about the arrangements which must be, may be, or must not be, used for the provision of equipment for use for police purposes.\n(1AB) The regulations may, in particular—\n(a) make provision about the nature or terms of such arrangements, or\n(b) prescribe arrangements which may be, or must be, used.\n(1B) The Secretary of State shall not make any regulations under subsection (1A) or (1AA) unless he considers it necessary to do so for the purpose of promoting the efficiency and effectiveness of one or more police forces.\n(2) Before making any regulations under this section, the Secretary of State shall consult with—\n(a) such persons as appear to the Secretary of State to represent the views of police and crime commissioners;\n(aa) the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime;\n(ab) the Common Council;\n(b) the National Police Chiefs' Council; and\n(c) such other persons as he thinks fit.\n(2A) Regulations under this section may make different provision for different cases and circumstances.\n(2B) A statutory instrument containing any regulations under this section shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.\n(2C) In this section “equipment” includes—\n(za) software;\n(a) vehicles; and\n(b) headgear and protective and other clothing.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "S. 53 renumbered as s. 53(1) (1.4.1998) by 1997 c. 50, s. 134(1), Sch. 9 para. 75; S.I. 1997/354, art. 2(2)(ay)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "S. 53(1A)-(2C) substituted for s. 53(2)(3) (1.10.2002) by Police Reform Act 2002 (c. 30), ss. 6, 108(2)-(5); S.I. 2002/2306, art. 2(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 53(1A)(a) substituted (29.1.2010) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), ss. 11(2)(a), 116(1); S.I. 2010/125, art. 2(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 53(1A)(b) substituted (29.1.2010) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), ss. 11(2)(a), 116(1); S.I. 2010/125, art. 2(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in s. 53(1A)(c) substituted (29.1.2010) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), ss. 11(2)(a), 116(1); S.I. 2010/125, art. 2(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words in s. 53(1A)(d) substituted (29.1.2010) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), ss. 11(2)(b), 116(1); S.I. 2010/125, art. 2(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in s. 53(1A)(e) substituted (29.1.2010) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), ss. 11(2)(a), 116(1); S.I. 2010/125, art. 2(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "S. 53(1AA)(1AB) inserted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 93(3), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "Words in s. 53(1B) inserted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 93(4), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "Words in s. 53(1B) substituted (29.1.2010) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), ss. 11(3), 116(1); S.I. 2010/125, art. 2(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F11",
      "text": "S. 53(2)(a)-(ab) substituted for s. 53(2)(a) (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 93(5), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1 (with Sch. 2 para. 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F12",
      "text": "Words in s. 53(2)(b) substituted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 3.4.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), s. 183(1)(5)(e), Sch. 14 paras. 6, 7(c); S.I. 2017/399, reg. 2, Sch. para. 41"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F13",
      "text": "S. 53(2C)(za) inserted (29.1.2010) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), ss. 11(4), 116(1); S.I. 2010/125, art. 2(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F14",
      "text": "Words in s. 53 title inserted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 93(2), 157(1); S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 53 extended (1.7.2004) by Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (c. 20), ss. 44, 45; S.I. 2004/1572, art. 3(aa)(bb)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/16/section/53",
    "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."
}