Police Legislation Library
The statutes that underpin UK policing, section by section — reproduced from legislation.gov.uk under the Open Government Licence.
These are the primary Acts and Regulations that define police powers, conduct and oversight in England and Wales. Each section is reproduced verbatim from legislation.gov.uk and links back to its source.
Statute is amended over time. Each page shows the date it was captured; always check legislation.gov.uk for the version in force on the date that matters to you. This library is a reference, not legal advice.
Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
1984 c. 60
183 sections →
Police Act 1996
1996 c. 16
182 sections →
Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020
S.I. 2020/4
82 regulations →
Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000
2000 c. 23
99 sections →
Equality Act 2010
2010 c. 15
31 sections →
Criminal Justice Act 2003
2003 c. 44
33 sections →
Theft Act 1968
1968 c. 60
15 sections →
Criminal Damage Act 1971
1971 c. 48
6 sections →
Offences against the Person Act 1861
1861 c. 100 (24 & 25 Vict.)
7 sections →
Criminal Justice Act 1988
1988 c. 33
3 sections →
Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
1971 c. 38
5 sections →
Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018
2018 c. 23
3 sections →
Prevention of Crime Act 1953
1953 c. 14 (1 & 2 Eliz. 2)
2 sections →
Magistrates' Courts Act 1980
1980 c. 43
5 sections →
Road Traffic Act 1988
1988 c. 52
24 sections →
Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988
1988 c. 53
4 sections →
Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984
1984 c. 27
4 sections →
Fraud Act 2006
2006 c. 35
8 sections →
Firearms Act 1968
1968 c. 27
11 sections →
Sexual Offences Act 2003
2003 c. 42
18 sections →
Public Order Act 1986
1986 c. 64
9 sections →
Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994
1994 c. 33
5 sections →
Source: legislation.gov.uk, Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0. Reproduced for reference; check the source for the current in-force text.