§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made in implementing the Police Act 1976.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI have made the Police Act 1976 (Commencement No. 2) Order 1977, which provides for the coming into force of all the provisions of the Act not yet in force. Except for Section 7, they will come into force on 1st June 1977; Section 7, which deals with constabularies maintained by authorities other than police authorities, will come into force on 1st September 1977. I made the order on 28th March, and it is published today.
I have laid before the House today the main regulations which, with effect from 1st June, will govern the new procedures for the handling of complaints 553W against the police introduced by the Police Act 1976 together with amended and consolidated Discipline Regulations for police officers. These regulations are:
- The Police (Complaints) (General) Regulations 1977.
- The Police (Copies of Complaints) Regulations 1977.
- The Police (Discipline) Regulations 1977.
- The Police (Discipline) (Senior Officers) Regulations 1977.
- The Police (Amendment) Regulations 1977.
- The Police Federation (Amendment) Regulations 1977.
The Police (Withdrawn, Anonymous Etc. Complaints) Regulations 1977 which were approved in draft by both Houses of Parliament in March are also published today. All these regulations have, as appropriate, been the subject of consultation with the Police Advisory Board, the Police Council and the new Police Complaints Board.
The new complaints procedure will apply only to complaints relating to events or conduct which occur on or after 1st June: there will be no retrospection. The revised disciplinary arrangements apply also only to disciplinary charges brought on or after 1st June.