PART 1Labour market and illegal working

CHAPTER 1Labour market

Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority

I113Relationship with other agencies: requests for assistance

1

The Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 is amended as follows.

2

Before section 23 (but after the italic heading before it) insert—

22ARelationship with other agencies: requests for assistance

1

The Authority may request any of the following to provide assistance to the Authority or any of its officers—

a

a chief officer of police for a police area in England and Wales;

b

the Director General of the National Crime Agency;

c

a person appointed as an immigration officer under paragraph 1 of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971;

d

any other person prescribed or of a prescribed description.

2

The Authority may make a request under subsection (1) only if it considers that the assistance would facilitate the exercise of any function by the Authority or any of its officers.

3

Any of the following persons may request the Authority to provide assistance to the person—

a

a chief officer of police for a police area in England and Wales;

b

a person appointed as an immigration officer under paragraph 1 of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971;

c

any other person prescribed or of a prescribed description.

4

A person may make a request under subsection (3) only if the person considers that the assistance would facilitate the exercise by the person of any function.

5

A request under this section must—

a

set out what assistance is being requested, and

b

explain how the assistance would facilitate the exercise of the function.

6

A person who receives a request under this section must respond to it in writing within a reasonable period.

7

Regulations under this section must not make provision which would be—

a

within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament if contained in an Act of that Parliament,

b

within the legislative competence of the National Assembly for Wales if contained in an Act of that Assembly, or

c

within the legislative competence of the Northern Ireland Assembly if contained in an Act of that Assembly made without the consent of the Secretary of State.

3

In section 25 (regulations, rules and orders), in subsection (5)—

a

omit the “or” at the end of paragraph (a);

b

at the end insert

, or

c

section 22A(1)(d) or (3)(c) (regulations regarding persons whom the Authority may request to provide assistance and who may request assistance from Authority).