Skip to content

Section 53A: Regulation of procedures and practices

Police Act 1996 (1996 c. 16)

(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision requiring one or more police forces—

(a) to adopt particular procedures or practices; or

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

(1A) If the College of Policing, having consulted the National Crime Agency, submits to the Secretary of State a draft of regulations under this section, the Secretary of State shall make regulations in terms of the draft unless the Secretary of State considers that—

(a) doing so would impair the efficiency or effectiveness of the police, or

(b) it would be unlawful to do so, or

(c) it would for some other reason be wrong to do so.

(1B) The Secretary of State may not make regulations under this section unless the text of the regulations has been prepared or approved by the College of Policing.

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

(9) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section shall not be made unless a draft of the regulations has been laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House.

(10) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Reproduced from legislation.gov.uk as captured on 2026-07-13. Statute is amended over time — check the source below for the version in force. This is a reference, not legal advice.
View s.53A on legislation.gov.uk

Source: legislation.gov.uk, Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.