5ACombination agreements: further provision

1

A combination agreement for a combined area may be made only if every responsible authority in relation to that area is a party to the agreement.

2

The relevant local policing body for a combined area may enter into a combination agreement for that area only if it considers that it would be in the interests of one or more of the following to do so—

a

reducing crime and disorder;

b

reducing re-offending;

c

combating the misuse of drugs, alcohol and other substances.

3

Subsections (4) to (6) apply if a combined area in relation to a combination agreement includes (wholly or party) the area of more than one police area.

4

The combination agreement must include arrangements for securing effective and efficient co-operation—

a

between each of the relevant local policing bodies in relation to the combined area, and

b

between the responsible authorities for the area and those relevant local policing bodies.

5

The Secretary of State must be a party to the agreement (if not already a party by virtue of being a relevant local policing body in relation to the combined area).

6

The Secretary of State may enter into the agreement only if the Secretary of State—

a

considers that it would be in the interests of one or more of the matters mentioned in subsection (2), and

b

is satisfied that the arrangements mentioned in subsection (4) are adequate for the purposes of securing effective and efficient co-operation in the carrying out of functions under section 6.

7

A combination agreement—

a

must be in writing, and

b

may be varied by a further combination agreement.

8

A combination agreement may be terminated by agreement in writing between the parties to it; and subsection (2), and (as the case may be) (6)(a), applies to an agreement under this subsection.

9

In this section “combination agreement”, “combined area” and “relevant local policing body” have the same meanings as in section 5.