(1)Her Majesty may appoint such number of inspectors (to be known as “Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Constabulary”) as the Secretary of State may with the consent of the Treasury determine, and of the persons so appointed one may be appointed as chief inspector of constabulary.”
(2)The inspectors of constabulary shall inspect, and report to the Secretary of State on the efficiency and effectiveness of, every police force maintained for a police area F1... F2... F3....
[F4(2A)The inspectors of constabulary may carry out an inspection of, and report to the Secretary of State on, a police authority's performance of its functions or of any particular function or functions (including in particular its compliance with the requirements of Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1999 (best value)).]
[F5(2B)The Secretary of State may at any time require the inspectors of constabulary to carry out an inspection under this section of a police force maintained for any police area; and a requirement under this subsection may include a requirement for the inspection to be confined to a particular part of the force in question, to particular matters or to particular activities of that force.]
[F6(2C)Where the inspectors carry out an inspection under subsection (2B), they shall send a report on that inspection to the Secretary of State.]
[F7(2D)It shall be the duty of the chief inspector of constabulary—
(a)to enter into arrangements with the Independent Police Complaints Commission for the purpose of securing cooperation, in the carrying out of their respective functions, between the inspectors of constabulary and that Commission; and
(b)to ensure that inspectors of constabulary provide that Commission with all such assistance and co-operation as may be required by those arrangements or as otherwise appears to the chief inspector to be appropriate for facilitating the carrying out by that Commission of its functions.]
(3)The inspectors of constabulary shall carry out such other duties for the purpose of furthering police efficiency and effectiveness as the Secretary of State may from time to time direct.
[F8(3A)The Secretary of State may delegate to the chief inspector of constabulary any or all of the following functions—
(a)his functions by virtue of sections 9F(2), 9FA(2) and 9G(2) with respect to the approval required for the appointment of an Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, of a Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis or of a Commander in the metropolitan police force;
(b)his functions by virtue of sections 11(1), 11A(2) and 12(2) with respect to the approval required for the appointment of the chief constable of a police force, of the deputy chief constable of a police force or of an assistant chief constable of a police force;
(c)his functions by virtue of section 12A(4) with respect to the consent required for a deputy chief constable to exercise or perform any powers or duties of a chief constable for a continuous period exceeding three months.]
(4)The chief inspector of constabulary shall in each year submit to the Secretary of State a report in such form as the Secretary of State may direct, and the Secretary of State shall lay a copy of that report before Parliament.
(5)The inspectors of constabulary shall be paid such salary and allowances as the Secretary of State may with the consent of the Treasury determine.
[F9(6)Schedule 4A (which makes further provision about the inspectors of constabulary) has effect.]
Textual Amendments
F1Word in s. 54(2) repealed (1.4.2002) by 2001 c. 16, ss. 137, 138(2), Sch. 7 Pt. 3; S.I. 2002/533, art. 2(e)
F2Words in s. 54(2) repealed (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 71(2), Sch. 17 Pt. 2; S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. paras. 10, 13(y)
F3Words in s. 54(2) repealed (14.7.2008) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), s. 153(7), Sch. 28 Pt. 8; S.I. 2008/1586, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 50(7)(a)
F4S. 54(2A) substituted (3.11.2008) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 129, 153(7); S.I. 2008/2712, art. 2, Sch. para. 11
F5S. 54(2B) substituted (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 71(3); S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. para. 10
F6S. 54(2B)-(2C) inserted (1.10.2002) by Police Reform Act 2002 (c. 30), ss. 3(1), 108(2)-(5); S.I. 2002/2306, art. 2(a)
F7S. 54(2D) inserted (1.4.2004) by Police Reform Act 2002 (c. 30), s. 108(2), Sch. 7 para. 15; S.I. 2004/913, art. 2(e)
F8S. 54(3A) inserted (1.11.2002) by Police Reform Act 2002 (c. 30), ss. 84, 108(2)-(5); S.I. 2002/2306, art. 5(a)
F9S. 54(6) inserted (1.4.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 29(1), 53(1); S.I. 2007/709, art. 3(m) (with art. 6)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 54 applied (1.4.2002) by 2001 c. 16, ss. 93(1), 138(2); S.I. 2002/533, art. 2(a)
C2Ss. 54-56: power to apply conferred (7.4.2005) by Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (c. 11), ss. 27(2)(a)(i), 53(1); S.I. 2005/1126, art. 2(1)
C3Ss. 54-56: power to apply conferred (21.7.2009) by Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 (c. 11), ss. 29(2)(a), 58(1) (with s. 36(4))