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The Police (Conduct) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

S.I. 2026/597 · Made 4 June 2026

Original text. legislation.gov.uk does not revise statutory instruments, so later amendments are not shown here. Changes made to it are listed under each provision when known.

POLICE, ENGLAND AND WALES

Made 4th June 2026

Laid before Parliament 9th June 2026

Coming into force 30th June 2026

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 50(1) and (2)(e) and 51(1) and (2)(ba) of the Police Act 1996f1.

In accordance with section 63(3)(a) of the Police Act 1996f2, the Secretary of State has supplied the Police Advisory Board for England and Wales with a draft of these Regulations and has taken into consideration the representations made by that Board before making these Regulations.

Annotations to the whole text

Footnotes

f1

1996 c. 16. Section 51(2)(ba) was inserted by section 35 of the Police Reform Act 2002 (c. 30) and amended by paragraph 4(2) in Part 1 of Schedule 22 to the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4) (“the 2008 Act”).

f2

Section 63(3) was substituted by paragraph 78(3) of Schedule 4 to the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15). Relevant amendments to section 63(3) were made by paragraph 6(2) of Schedule 22 to the 2008 Act, section 10(3)(b) of the Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26) and sections 123(4) and 133(2) of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (c. 12).

Contents

  1. 1Citation, commencement and extent
  2. 2Amendment of the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020
  3. 3Transitional provision
  4. Signature
  5. Explanatory note

1Citation, commencement and extent

(1)

These Regulations may be cited as the Police (Conduct) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 and come into force on 30th June 2026.

(2)

These Regulations extend to England and Wales.

2Amendment of the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020

(1)

The Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020f1 are amended as follows.

(2)

In Schedule 2 (standards of professional behaviour), for the fifth paragraph (use of force) substitute—

  • “Police officers only use force when they honestly believe this to be necessary. The force used should be necessary, proportionate and reasonable.”.

3Transitional provision

(1)

The amendment made by regulation 2 does not have effect in relation to—

(a)

a pre-commencement allegation, or

(b)

an allegation against a police officer or former police officer which—

(i)

relates to a matter in respect of which a pre-commencement allegation against that person has been made, and

(ii)

comes to the attention of a local policing bodyf1, a chief officer of policef2 or the Director General on or after 30th June 2026 at a time when the pre-commencement allegation is being handled in accordance with—

(aa)

the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 as in force before 30th June 2026, or

(bb)

Part 2 of the Police Reform Act 2002f3.

(2)

In this regulation—

  • “Director General” means the Director General of the Independent Office for Police Conduct;

  • “former police officer” means a person who has ceased to be a member of a police force or special constable;

  • “police officer” means a member of a police force or special constable;

  • “pre-commencement allegation” means an allegation against a police officer or former police officer which came to the attention of a local policing body, a chief officer of police or the Director General before 30th June 2026.

Signature

Sarah Jones

Minister of State

4th June 2026

Home Office

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/4) (“the Conduct Regulations”).

Regulation 2 amends Schedule 2 to the Conduct Regulations to update the ‘use of force’ standard in the Standards of Professional Behaviour.

Regulation 3 makes transitional provision. It provides that the amendment made by regulation 2 does not apply to an allegation made before these Regulations come into force, or to a later allegation that relates to the same matter where the earlier allegation is still being handled under the Conduct Regulations (as in force immediately before the coming into force of these Regulations) or under the Police Reform Act 2002 (c. 30).

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.