Search Legislation

Police Reform Act 2002

Changes to legislation:

Police Reform Act 2002, Cross Heading: Conduct of persons in other forms of police service is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 26 April 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.

View outstanding changes

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):

Conduct of persons in other forms of police serviceE+W

25 NCIS and NCSE+W

F1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

26 Forces maintained otherwise than by [F2local policing bodies]E+W

(1)Notwithstanding any provision made by or under any enactment passed or made before this Act—

(a)the [F3Director General], and

(b)an authority other than a [F4local policing body] which maintains a body of constables,

shall each have power to enter into an agreement with the other for the establishment and maintenance in relation to that body of constables of procedures corresponding or similar to any of those provided for by or under this Part.

(2)If it appears to the Secretary of State appropriate to do so in relation to any body of constables maintained otherwise than by a [F5local policing body] to establish any such corresponding or similar procedures, he may by order—

(a)provide for the establishment and maintenance of such procedures in relation to that body of constables; and

(b)in a case in which procedures in relation to that body of constables have effect by virtue of subsection (9) or have previously been established by virtue of this section—

(i)provide for those procedures to be superseded by the provision made by the order; and

(ii)make transitional provision in connection with the replacement of the superseded procedures.

(3)It shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to secure that procedures are established and maintained under subsection (2) in relation to each of the following—

(a)the Ministry of Defence Police; and

(b)the British Transport Police Force.

(4)An agreement under this section shall not be made, varied or terminated except with the approval of the Secretary of State.

(5)An agreement or order under this section in relation to any body of constables may contain provision for enabling the [F3Director General] to bring and conduct, or otherwise participate or intervene in, any proceedings which are identified by the agreement or order as disciplinary proceedings in relation to members of that body of constables.

(6)An agreement or order under this section in relation to any body of constables may provide for the application of procedures in relation to persons who are not themselves constables but are employed for the purposes of that body of constables and in relation to the conduct of such persons, as well as in relation to members of that body of constables and their conduct.

(7)Before making an order under this section the Secretary of State shall consult with both—

(a)the [F3Director General]; and

(b)the authority maintaining the body of constables to whom the order relates.

(8)Procedures established in accordance with any agreement or order under this section shall have no effect in relation to anything done outside England and Wales by any constable or any person employed for the purposes of a body of constables.

(9)Where, immediately before the coming into force of this section, any procedures have effect in relation to any body of constables by virtue of—

(a)section 78 of the 1996 Act (which made provisions similar to that made by this section), or

(b)paragraph 13 of Schedule 8 to that Act (transitional provisions),

those procedures shall continue to have effect thereafter (notwithstanding the repeal by this Act of Chapter 1 of Part 4 of the 1996 Act and of that paragraph) until superseded by procedures established by virtue of any agreement or order under this section.

(10)Subsection (9) has effect subject to the provisions of any order made under section 28.

Textual Amendments

F3Words in s. 26 substituted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 8.1.2018 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), s. 183(1)(5)(e), Sch. 9 para. 33; S.I. 2017/1249, reg. 2 (with reg. 3)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

F626ASerious Organised Crime AgencyE+W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F726BNational Policing Improvement AgencyE+W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

[F826BACollege of PolicingE+W

(1)The [F9Director General] and the College of Policing must enter into an agreement for the establishment, in relation to members of the College's staff, of procedures corresponding or similar to those provided for by or under this Part.

(2)An agreement under this section—

(a)must not be made or varied except with the approval of the Secretary of State; and

(b)must not be terminated unless—

(i)it is replaced by another such agreement, and

(ii)the Secretary of State approves.

(3)An agreement under this section may contain provision for enabling the [F9Director General] to bring and conduct, or otherwise participate or intervene in, any proceedings that are identified by the agreement as disciplinary hearings in relation to members of the College's staff.

(4)Procedures established in accordance with an agreement under this section shall have no effect in relation to anything done outside England and Wales by any member of the College's staff.]

Textual Amendments

F9Words in s. 26BA substituted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 8.1.2018 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), s. 183(1)(5)(e), Sch. 9 para. 34; S.I. 2017/1249, reg. 2 (with reg. 3)

[F1026CThe National Crime AgencyE+W

(1)The Secretary of State must make regulations conferring functions on the [F11Director General] in relation to the exercise of functions by the Director General [F12of the National Crime Agency] and other National Crime Agency officers.

(2)Regulations under this section may, in particular—

(a)apply (with or without modifications), or make provision similar to, any provision of or made under this Part of this Act;

(b)make provision for payment by the National Crime Agency to, or in respect of, the [F13the Office or in respect of its Director General].

(3)Regulations under this section must relate only to the exercise of functions in, or in relation to, England and Wales.

(4)The [F14Director General] and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration may jointly investigate a matter in relation to which—

(a)the [F14Director General] has functions by virtue of this section, and

(b)the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration has functions by virtue of the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967.

(5)A National Crime Agency officer may disclose information to the [F15Director General], or to a person acting on the [F16Director General's] behalf, for the purposes of the exercise by the [F17Director General], or by any person acting on the [F16Director General's] behalf, of an NCA complaints function.

(6)The [F18Director General] and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration may disclose information to each other for the purposes of the exercise of a function—

(a)by virtue of this section, or

(b)under the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967.

(7)Regulations under this section may, in particular, make—

(a)further provision about the disclosure of information under subsection (5) or (6);

(b)provision about the further disclosure of information that has been so disclosed;

including provision which applies (with or without modifications), or is similar to, any provision of Schedule 7 to the Crime and Courts Act 2013.

(8)Except as provided for in regulations under this section, that Schedule to that Act does not apply to—

(a)the disclosure of information under subsection (5) or (6), or

(b)the further disclosure of information so disclosed.

(9)In this section “NCA complaints function” means a function in relation to the exercise of functions by the Director General [F19of the National Crime Agency] or any other National Crime Agency officer.]

Textual Amendments

F10S. 26C inserted (8.5.2013 for specified purposes, 7.10.2013 in so far as not already in force) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), ss. 11(6), 61(2); S.I. 2013/1042, art. 2(d); S.I. 2013/1682, art. 3(p)

F11Words in s. 26C(1) substituted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 8.1.2018 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), s. 183(1)(5)(e), Sch. 9 para. 35(2)(a); S.I. 2017/1249, reg. 2 (with reg. 3)

F12Words in s. 26C(1) inserted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 8.1.2018 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), s. 183(1)(5)(e), Sch. 9 para. 35(2)(b); S.I. 2017/1249, reg. 2 (with reg. 3)

F13Words in s. 26C(2) substituted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 8.1.2018 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), s. 183(1)(5)(e), Sch. 9 para. 35(3); S.I. 2017/1249, reg. 2 (with reg. 3)

F14Words in s. 26C(4) substituted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 8.1.2018 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), s. 183(1)(5)(e), Sch. 9 para. 35(4); S.I. 2017/1249, reg. 2 (with reg. 3)

F15Words in s. 26C(5) substituted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 8.1.2018 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), s. 183(1)(5)(e), Sch. 9 para. 35(5)(a); S.I. 2017/1249, reg. 2 (with reg. 3)

F16Words in s. 26C(5) substituted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 8.1.2018 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), s. 183(1)(5)(e), Sch. 9 para. 35(5)(b); S.I. 2017/1249, reg. 2 (with reg. 3)

F17Words in s. 26C(5) substituted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 8.1.2018 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), s. 183(1)(5)(e), Sch. 9 para. 35(5)(c); S.I. 2017/1249, reg. 2 (with reg. 3)

F18Words in s. 26C(6) substituted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 8.1.2018 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), s. 183(1)(5)(e), Sch. 9 para. 35(6); S.I. 2017/1249, reg. 2 (with reg. 3)

F19Words in s. 26C(9) inserted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 8.1.2018 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), s. 183(1)(5)(e), Sch. 9 para. 35(7); S.I. 2017/1249, reg. 2 (with reg. 3)

[F2026DLabour abuse prevention officersE+W

(1)The Secretary of State may make regulations conferring functions on the [F21Director General] in relation to the exercise of functions by officers of the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (the “Authority”) in their capacity as labour abuse prevention officers (see section 114B of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE powers for labour abuse prevention officers)).

(2)Regulations under this section may, in particular—

(a)apply (with or without modifications), or make provision similar to, any provision of or made under this Part;

(b)make provision for payment by the Authority to, or in respect of, the [F22Office or in respect of the Director General].

(3)The [F21Director General] and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration may jointly investigate a matter in relation to which—

(a)the [F21Director General] has functions by virtue of this section, and

(b)the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration has functions by virtue of the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967.

(4)An officer of the Authority may disclose information to the [F21Director General], or to a person acting on the [F23Director General's] behalf, for the purposes of the exercise by the [F21Director General], or by any person acting on the [F23Director General's] behalf, of an Authority complaints function.

(5)The [F21Director General] and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration may disclose information to each other for the purposes of the exercise of a function—

(a)by virtue of this section, or

(b)under the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967.

(6)Regulations under this section may, in particular, make—

(a)further provision about the disclosure of information under subsection (4) or (5);

(b)provision about the further disclosure of information that has been so disclosed.

(7)In this section “Authority complaints function” means a function in relation to the exercise of functions by officers of the Authority.]

Textual Amendments

F21Words in s. 26D substituted in part (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 8.1.2018 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), s. 183(1)(5)(e), Sch. 9 para. 36(2); S.I. 2017/1249, reg. 2 (with reg. 3)

F22Words in s. 26D(2)(b) substituted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 8.1.2018 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), s. 183(1)(5)(e), Sch. 9 para. 36(3); S.I. 2017/1249, reg. 2 (with reg. 3)

F23Words in s. 26D(4) substituted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 8.1.2018 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), s. 183(1)(5)(e), Sch. 9 para. 36(4); S.I. 2017/1249, reg. 2 (with reg. 3)

[F2426EFood crime officersE+W

(1)The Secretary of State may make regulations conferring functions on the Director General in relation to officers of the Food Standards Agency (the “Agency”) acting in the exercise of functions conferred on them by virtue of—

(a)section 114C of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE powers for food crime officers), or

(b)section 39A of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (powers for food crime officers: inferences from silence).

(2)Regulations under this section may, in particular—

(a)apply (with or without modifications), or make provision similar to, any provision of or made under this Part;

(b)make provision for payment by the Agency to, or in respect of, the Office or in respect of the Director General.

(3)The Director General and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration may jointly investigate a matter in relation to which—

(a)the Director General has functions by virtue of this section, and

(b)the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration has functions by virtue of the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967.

(4)An officer of the Agency may disclose information to the Director General or to a person acting on the Director General’s behalf, for the purposes of the exercise by the Director General or by any person acting on the Director General’s behalf, of an Agency complaints function.

(5)The Director General and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration may disclose information to each other for the purposes of the exercise of a function—

(a)by virtue of this section, or

(b)under the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967.

(6)Regulations under this section may, in particular, make—

(a)further provision about the disclosure of information under subsection (4) or (5);

(b)provision about the further disclosure of information that has been so disclosed.

(7)A disclosure of information authorised by this section does not breach—

(a)any obligation of confidence owed by the person making the disclosure, or

(b)any other restriction on the disclosure of information (however imposed).

(8)But this section does not authorise a disclosure of information that—

(a)would contravene the data protection legislation (but in determining whether a disclosure would do so, the power conferred by this section is to be taken into account), or

(b)is prohibited by any of Parts 1 to 7 or Chapter 1 of Part 9 of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016.

(9)In this section—

  • “Agency complaints function” means a function in relation to the exercise of functions by officers of the Agency;

  • “data protection legislation” has the same meaning as in the Data Protection Act 2018 (see section 3 of that Act).]

27 Conduct of the [F25Office's] staffE+W

(1)The Secretary of State shall by regulations make provision for the manner in which the following cases are to be handled or dealt with—

(a)cases in which allegations of misconduct are made against members of the [F25Office's] staff; and

(b)cases in which there is otherwise an indication that there may have been misconduct by a member of the [F25Office's] staff.

(2)Regulations under this section may apply, with such modifications as the Secretary of State thinks fit, any provision made by or under this Part.

(3)Regulations under this section may provide for it to be the duty of any person on whom functions are conferred by the regulations to have regard, in the carrying out of those functions, to any guidance given by such persons and in such manner as may be specified in the regulations.

(4)Before making any regulations under this section the Secretary of State shall consult with the [F26Office and the Director General].

Textual Amendments

F25Words in s. 27 substituted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 8.1.2018 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), s. 183(1)(5)(e), Sch. 9 para. 37(2); S.I. 2017/1249, reg. 2 (with reg. 3)

F26Words in s. 27(4) substituted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 8.1.2018 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), s. 183(1)(5)(e), Sch. 9 para. 37(3); S.I. 2017/1249, reg. 2 (with reg. 3)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

You have chosen to open The Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act as a PDF

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open the Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open Schedules only

The Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

Explanatory Notes

Text created by the government department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Public Acts except Appropriation, Consolidated Fund, Finance and Consolidation Acts.

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources