Part 3British Transport Police

Miscellaneous

68Offences

(1)Subsections (1) and (2) of section 89 of the Police Act 1996 (c. 16) (assault on constable, &c.) shall apply in relation to a constable of the Police Force as they apply in relation to other constables in England and Wales.

(2)Section 90 of that Act (impersonation of constable) shall apply as if—

(a)a reference to a member of a police force included a reference to a constable of the Police Force, and

(b)a reference to a special constable appointed for a police area included a reference to a special constable of the Police Force.

(3)In their application in relation to the Police Force by virtue of this section, sections 89 and 90 of that Act shall have effect throughout England and Wales and Scotland.

69Part III of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (c. 53)

(1)Part III of Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (fixed penalties) shall be amended as follows.

(2)In section 75 (conditional offers in Scotland) after subsection (3) insert—

(3A)Where a constable is a constable of the British Transport Police Force subsection (3) shall have effect as if the reference to the chief constable were a reference to the chief constable of that force.

(3)In section 76(2)(b) (limitation on proceedings) after “constable” insert “or, as the case may be, the chief constable of the British Transport Police Force”.

70International assistance

(1)The Authority may provide advice or assistance, or arrange for the Police Force to provide advice or assistance, to a body which has responsibilities in relation to the policing of a railway outside Great Britain.

(2)Advice or assistance under subsection (1)—

(a)may, in particular, involve the secondment of an employee,

(b)may be provided on terms or conditions (whether as to payment or otherwise), and

(c)may not involve the provision of financial assistance (whether or not by way of investment).

(3)The power under subsection (1) may be exercised only with the consent of the Secretary of State (which may be general or specific and conditional or unconditional).

71Exercise of functions by Secretary of State

The Secretary of State shall exercise his functions in relation to the Authority under this Part for the purpose of promoting the efficiency and effectiveness of the Police Force.