Legislation – Policing and Crime Act 2017
Changes to legislation:
Policing and Crime Act 2017, Section 47 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 07 April 2026. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
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Part 3Police workforce and representative institutions
CHAPTER 1Police workforce
Police rank structure
47Power to make regulations about police ranks
“50ARegulations for police forces: ranks
(1)
The Secretary of State may by regulations specify the ranks that may be held by members of police forces, other than chief officers of police.
(2)
The ranks must include the rank of constable.
(3)
The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision that is consequential on, or incidental or supplemental to, regulations under subsection (1).
(4)
The power conferred by subsection (3) includes power to—
(a)
repeal, revoke or otherwise amend legislation that (in relation to members of police forces in England and Wales) makes provision with respect to ranks that are not specified in regulations under subsection (1);
(b)
make other amendments of legislation that are consequential on regulations under subsection (1).
(5)
In subsection (4), “legislation” means any provision of—
(a)
an Act (including this Act),
(b)
subordinate legislation within the meaning of the Interpretation Act 1978,
(c)
an Act of the Scottish Parliament or an instrument made under such an Act,
(d)
a Measure or Act of the National Assembly for Wales or an instrument made under a Measure or Act of that Assembly, or
(e)
Northern Ireland legislation or an instrument made under Northern Ireland legislation.
(6)
Regulations under this section may include transitional, transitory or saving provision.
(7)
Regulations under this section may make different provision for different cases or circumstances.
50BRegulations under section 50A: procedure
(1)
A statutory instrument containing regulations under section 50A may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.
(2)
If the College of Policing submits to the Secretary of State a draft of regulations under section 50A, then (subject to subsection (3)) the Secretary of State must—
(a)
lay before each House of Parliament for approval a draft of a statutory instrument containing regulations in terms of the draft prepared by the College of Policing, and
(b)
if the draft of the statutory instrument is approved by both Houses of Parliament, make the regulations in those terms.
(3)
The duty under subsection (2) does not apply if the Secretary of State considers—
(a)
that it would be unlawful to make regulations in terms of the draft,
(b)
that it would impair the efficiency of the police to do so, or
(c)
that it would for some other reason be wrong to do so.
(4)
The Secretary of State may not lay before each House of Parliament for approval a draft of a statutory instrument containing regulations under section 50A unless—
(a)
the draft is laid in accordance with the duty under subsection (2), or
(b)
the College of Policing has approved the text of the regulations.”