Archived decisions

POLICE REFORM ACT 2002

1. The Police Reform Act 2002 received Royal Assent on 24 July, 2002.

2. As is usual, the Act's provisions will be brought into force by a series of commencement orders and the first raft of provisions came into effect on 1 October, 2002 and included provisions relating to the National Policing Plan, Codes of Practice and Regulations and Power of Arrest. The majority of the remaining provisions will be brought into force between November and April, 2003. However, the new complaints system, including the establishment of an Independent Police Complaints Commission, will not come into operation until April, 2004, so that the system can be fully operational from that date.

3. In its final form, the Act represents a considerable improvement on the Bill originally published by the Government in February. Significant changes were achieved during the Bill's parliamentary passage and much of this was due to the very considerable lobbying undertaken by police authorities and the Association of Police Authorities, as well as to the efforts of current and former APA members in the House of Lords.

4. Major changes achieved include:-

· Removal of the proposed powers for the Home Secretary to intervene directly in police forces or Basic Command Units. Instead the Home Secretary will now only be able to act through, and with, the police authority.


· Statutory consultation by the Home Secretary with the APA and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) on a wide range of measures eg the national policing plan, codes of practice, regulations etc.


· Dilution of the Home Secretary's proposed powers to prescribe operational procedures and practices. This will now only apply where it is relevant to co-operation between forces and where Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary (HMIC) certifies that it is "in the national interests".


· Scope for police authorities to make representations where the Home Secretary seeks to remove/suspend a chief officer. Removal of the scope for accredited (non-police) persons to have powers of detention.


· Non-police staff (eg wardens/private security staff) exercising police powers to be subject to Police and Criminal Evidence Codes of Practice.


· Making police authorities "responsible authorities" in local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships.


· Deregulation of police authority members' expenses.

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