The Police Act 1996
c 16
is an Act of the

Parliament of the United Kingdom The Parliament of the United Kingdom is the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories. It meets at the Palace of Westminster, London. It alone possesses legislative suprem ...

which defined the current police areas in England and Wales, constituted police authorities for those areas, and set out the relationship between the

Home Secretary The secretary of state for the Home Department, otherwise known as the home secretary, is a senior minister of the Crown in the Government of the United Kingdom. The home secretary leads the Home Office, and is responsible for all nationa ...

and the English and Welsh

territorial police force A territorial police force is a police service that is responsible for an area defined by sub-national boundaries, distinguished from other police services which deal with the entire country or a type of crime. In countries organized as federations, ...

s. It replaced the

Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994 The Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994 (c 29) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It defined the police areas, constituted the current police authorities and set out the relationship between the Home Secretary and the ter ...

, which in turn had replaced the Police Act 1964.

Part I Organisation of Police Forces

Sections 1 to 35 concern the national and regional organisation of the police force, with slightly differently applicable rules inside and outside London.

Part II Central Supervision, Direction and Facilities

Sections 36 to 58 concern the functions of the Secretary of State in setting the police forces' objectives, handling budgets, and making more detailed regulations.

Part III Police Representative Institutions

Sections 59 to 64 concern the

Police Federation of England and Wales The Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) is the statutory staff association for police constables, sergeants, inspectors, chief inspectors and special constables in the 43 territorial police forces in England and Wales. Under UK l ...

and related rules. Section 64 contains the prohibition (in place since the Police Act 1919) on police becoming members of a

trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ...

which can take

strike action Strike action, also called labor strike, labour strike, or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became common during the ...

, under the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. The Police Federation was thought to be a substitute, given the potential for civil unrest that might develop if police stopped working to go on strike. This was thought to make the police exceptional, and as an alternative, a system of arbitration to resolve workplace disputes was instituted. The constitution of the Police Federation is set out in the amended Police Federation Regulations 1969.

Part IV Complaints, disciplinary proceedings etc.

Sections 65 to 88 concern the rules of the Police Complaints Authority, handling complaints made against the police, and procedures for disciplinary hearings and dismissal of officers.

Part V Miscellaneous and General

Section 89(1) creates the offence of

assaulting a constable in the execution of his duty Assaulting a constable in the execution of his duty is a statutory offence of aggravated assault in England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Hong Kong. England and Wales Section 89(1) of the Police Act 1996 provides: It is a summa ...

. Subsequently, the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 increased the maximum sentence on summary conviction to 12 months.

References

United Kingdom Acts of Parliament 1996 Law enforcement in the United Kingdom Police legislation in the United Kingdom {{UK-statute-stub