Office of Public Sector Information

National Crime Squad equipment

6 (1) Section 80 shall become subsection (1) of that section, and in that section, after that subsection, there shall be inserted—

“(2) The Secretary of State may by regulations make any or all of the following provisions—

(a) provision requiring the National Crime Squad when using equipment for the purposes specified in the regulations to use only—

(i) the equipment which is specified in the regulations;

(ii) equipment which is of a description so specified; or

(iii) equipment which is of a type approved by the Secretary of State in accordance with the regulations;

(b) provision requiring the National Crime Squad to keep available for use the equipment falling within paragraph (a)(i) to (iii) which is specified or described in, or approved in accordance with, the regulations;

(c) provision prohibiting the National Crime Squad from using equipment of a type approved as mentioned in paragraph (a)(iii) except—

(i) where the conditions subject to which the approval was given are satisfied; and

(ii) in accordance with the other terms of that approval;

(d) provision requiring equipment used the National Crime Squad to comply with such conditions as may be specified in the regulations, or as may be approved by the Secretary of State in accordance with the regulations;

(e) provision prohibiting the National Crime Squad from using equipment specified in the regulations, or any equipment of a description so specified.

(3) Before making regulations under this section, the Secretary of State shall consult with—

(a) the Service Authority for the National Crime Squad;

(b) the Director General of that Squad;

(c) persons whom the Secretary of State considers to represent the interests of police authorities;

(d) persons whom the Secretary of State considers to represent the interests of chief officers of police; and

(e) such other persons as the Secretary of State thinks fit.

(4) Regulations under this section may make different provision for different cases and circumstances.

(5) A statutory instrument containing any regulations under this section shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(6) In this section “equipment” includes—

(a) vehicles; and

(b) headgear and protective and other clothing.”

Procedures and practices of the National Crime Squad

7 After section 80 there shall be inserted—

“80A Regulation of procedures and practices

(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision requiring the National Crime Squad—

(a) to adopt particular procedures or practices; or

(b) to adopt procedures or practices of a particular description.

(2) Before making any regulations under this section, the Secretary of State shall seek advice from—

(a) the chief inspector of constabulary; and

(b) the Central Police Training and Development Authority.

(3) Before seeking advice under subsection (2) the Secretary of State shall consult about his proposal to do so with—

(a) persons whom he considers to represent the interests of police authorities; and

(b) persons whom he considers to represent the interests of chief officers of police.

(4) A request for the purposes of subsection (2) may specify a period within which the requested advice is to be provided; and, if a period is so specified, the requested advice must be provided within it.

(5) Before giving any advice in response to a request for the purposes of subsection (2), the Central Police Training and Development Authority (“the CPTDA”) shall consult with—

(a) the NCS Service Authority;

(b) the Director General of the National Crime Squad;

(c) persons whom the CPTDA considers to represent the interests of police authorities;

(d) persons whom the CPTDA considers to represent the interests of chief officers of police; and

(e) such other persons as the CPTDA thinks fit.

(6) The Secretary of State shall not make any regulations under this section requiring the adoption of any procedure or practice unless—

(a) he has, as respects that procedure or practice, received advice from the Central Police Training and Development Authority and has considered that advice; and

(b) the advice of the chief inspector of constabulary states that that inspector is satisfied as to the matters mentioned in subsection (7); and

(c) the Secretary of State himself is satisfied as to those matters.

(7) Those matters are—

(a) that the adoption of that procedure or practice is necessary in order to facilitate the carrying out by members of the National Crime Squad and of any one or more police forces of joint or co-ordinated operations;

(b) that the making of regulations is necessary for securing the adoption of that procedure or practice; and

(c) that securing the adoption of that procedure or practice is in the national interest.

(8) Regulations under this section may make different provision for different cases and circumstances.

(9) A statutory instrument containing any regulations under this section shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.”