The Police Act 1964 (c. 48) was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that updated the legislation governing police forces in England and Wales, constituted new police authorities, gave the Home Secretary new powers to supervise local constabularies, and allowed for the amalgamation of existing forces into more efficient units.
Royal commission A Royal Commission on the Police had been appointed in 1960 under the chairmanship of Henry Willink to "review the constitutional position of the police throughout Great Britain".
The appointment of the commission followed two high-profile scandals involving borough police forces. These exposed problems in the relationship between the chief constable and watch committee of each borough, and disputes between central and local government over the control of local forces. In 1958, following a trial into police corruption in Brighton, the presiding judge stated that the judiciary could have no faith in police evidence until the chief constable had been replaced. Brighton Watch Committee complained that they could not properly supervise the force, as they had no access to the annual report of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, which was sent to the Home Secretary. In 1959, the watch committee of Nottingham suspended the city's chief constable, Athelstan Popkess, when he refused to furnish a report on his investigations into alleged corruption of councillors. Details of the investigation were however leaked to the press on the eve of municipal elections. The committee were subsequently forced to reinstate Popkess when the Home Secretary, Rab Butler, threatened to withdraw central government funding.
Among the particular subjects for investigation by the commission were: The constitution and functions of police authorities The accountability of police officers including chief constables The relationship of the police to the public and procedures for dealing with complaints The remuneration of police constablesRoyal Commission on the Police 1960: interim report, BOPCRIS website
The commission published its final report on 31 May 1962. This recommended an urgent review on the number and size of police areas. Among its recommendations were: No single national force was to be formed, but central government should exercise more powers over local forces Retention of small police forces of between 200 and 350 officers "justifiable only by special circumstances such as the distribution of the population and the geography of the area" The optimum size for a police force was more than 500 members, with the police area having a population of at least 250,000 There was "a case" for single police forces for major conurbations A large reduction in the number of forces in Scotland was needed, to between 20 and 33
The commission noted that of 158 police forces in Great Britain, 97 had an establishment of less than 350.
Provisions The act received royal assent on 10 June 1964. Among its provisions were:
England and Wales, outside London, was to consist of "police areas". These were to be administrative counties, county boroughs or "combined police areas", consisting of combinations of counties and county boroughs. The Home Secretary had the power to force compulsory amalgamation schemes from 1 July 1964. New "police authorities" were to be established: these were to be known as watch committees (in boroughs), police committees (in counties – replacing joint standing committees) or combined police authorities. Police authorities were to consist of two-thirds elected members and one-third magistrates. Previously all members of watch committees had been councillors or aldermen, while county joint standing committees were fifty per cent county councillors and aldermen, fifty per cent magistrates. The police authorities had fewer powers than their predecessors, especially the boroughs, with the Home Secretary taking on more supervision than before. The authority were required to maintain an efficient police force, but had no operational role. Chief constables were given the power to appoint, direct and control special constables. The chief constable could appoint police cadets with the permission of the authority. The chief constable was required to make an annual report to the police authority. A police authority could also request other reports on policing in the police area. Police authorities were empowered to choose chief constables, deputy and assistant chief constables from a Home Office shortlist. They could also require the chief constable to retire, subject to the Home Secretary's approval. The Home Secretary could order a complaint against a police force to be investigated by officers of another force.
Repealed enactments Section 64(3) of the act repealed 81 enactments, listed in parts I and II of the schedule 10 to the act.
+Part I - Repeals not extending to ScotlandCitationShort titleExtent of repeal 41 Geo. 3. (U.K.) c. 78 Constables Expenses Act 1801 The whole act. 10 Geo. 4. c. 44 Metropolitan Police Act 1829 In section 4, the words from "shall be sworn" to "made, and".In section 5, the words from "and the said justices" to the end.In section 12, the words from "and the receiver" to "exertion". 1 & 2 Will. 4. c. 41 Special Constables Act 1831 The whole act. 5 & 6 Will. 4. c. 43 Special Constables Act 1835 The whole act. 1 & 2 Vict. c. 80 Special Constables Act 1838 The whole act. 2 & 3 Vict. c. 47 Metropolitan Police Act 1839 Section 5.Sections 8 and 9.Sections 14 to 18. 2 & 3 Vict. c. xciv City of London Police Act 1839 In section 9, the words from "shall be sworn" to "made, and".Section 13.In section 14, the words from "and shall from time to time" to the end.Sections 15 to 17.Sections 19 and 24. 2 & 3 Vict. c. 93 County Police Act 1839 The whole act. 3 & 4 Vict. c. 88 County Police Act 1840 The whole act. 5 & 6 Vict. c. 109 Parish Constables Act 1842 The whole act. 10 & 11 Vict. c. 89 Town Police Clauses Act 1847 Sections 6 to 14.Sections 16 and 20. 15 & 16 Vict. c. cx Tyne Improvement Act 1852 In section 28, the words from "and every such Police Constable" to "respecting the Constables to be appointed in pursuance of that Act" and the words from "shall, upon the said River" to "made, and". 19 & 20 Vict. c. 69 County and Borough Police Act 1856 The whole act. 19 & 20 Vict. c. xvii Cambridge Award Act 1856 Sections 51 to 55. 20 Vict. c. 2 County Police Act 1857 The whole act. 22 & 23 Vict. c. 32 County and Borough Police Act 1859 The whole act. 23 & 24 Vict. c. 135 Metropolitan Police Act 1860 The whole act, except as applied by the Special Constables Act 1923. 24 & 25 Vict. c. 51 Metropolitan Police Act 1861 The whole act. 24 & 25 Vict. c. 100 Offences against the Person Act 1861 In section 38, the words from "or shall assault, resist" to "such officer,". 34 & 35 Vict. c. 87 Sunday Observation Prosecution Act 1871 Section 2.The Schedule. 34 & 35 Vict. c. 96 Pedlars Act 1871 In section 3, the definitions of "police district" and "chief officer of police".Schedule 1. 34 & 35 Vict. c. 112 Prevention of Crimes Act 1871 Section 12.In section 20, the definitions of "police district" and "chief officer of police". 35 & 36 Vict. c. 92 Parish Constables Act 1872 The whole act. 38 & 39 Vict. c. 17 Explosives Act 1875 Section 107. 38 & 39 Vict. c. 28 Metropolitan Police Staff (Superannuation) Act 1875 In section 2 the words from "Where any superannuation" to the end. 45 & 46 Vict. c. 50 Municipal Corporations Act 1882 Part IX except section 193.In Schedule 5, in Part II, paragraph 5. 46 & 47 Vict. c. 34 Cheap Trains Act 1883 In section 8, the definitions of "police force" and "police authority". 46 & 47 Vict. c. 44 Borough Constables Act 1883 The whole act. 47 & 48 Vict. c. 58 Prosecution of Offences Act 1884 Section 4. 48 & 49 Vict. c. 75 Prevention of Crimes Amendment Act 1885 The whole act. 49 & 50 Vict. c. 38 Riot (Damages) Act 1886 In section 5, in subsection (1), the words from "and the amount" to the end; and subsections (2) and (4).Section 8.Schedule 1. 51 & 52 Vict. c. 41 Local Government Act 1888 In section 3 in paragraph (iv) the words "lock-up houses" and "police stations", and paragraph (xiv).Section 9.Section 30.Section 34(3)(c).Section 66.In section 78(1) the words "either alone or jointly with the quarter sessions".Section 81(7) and (8).Section 93. 53 & 54 Vict. c. 45 Police Act 1890 The whole act. 53 & 54 Vict. c. 59 Public Health Acts Amendment Act 1890 In section 51, in paragraph 13, the definitions of "police district" and "chief officer of police". 55 & 56 Vict. c. 38 Police Returns Act 1892 The whole act. 6 Edw. 7. c. 32 Dogs Act 1906 Section 3(10). 9 Edw. 7. c. 30 Cinematograph Act 1909 Section 2(6). 10 Edw. 7 & 1 Geo. 5. c. 13 Police (Weekly Rest-Day) Act 1910 The whole act. 4 & 5 Geo. 5. c. 34 Police Reservists (Allowances) Act 1914 Section 1(5). 4 & 5 Geo. 5. c. 61 Special Constables Act 1914 The whole act. 6 & 7 Geo. 5. c. 50 Larceny Act 1916 In section 46(1), in the definition of "chief officer of police", paragraphs (a), (b) and (c). 9 & 10 Geo. 5. c. 84 County and Borough Police Act 1919 The whole act. 10 & 11 Geo. 5. c. clxxiii Port of London (Consolidation) Act 1920 Section 286. 11 & 12 Geo. 5. c. 31 Police Pensions Act 1921 Section 30.Schedule 3. 13 & 14 Geo. 5. c. 11 Special Constables Act 1923 Sections 1 and 2. 21 & 22 Geo. 5. c. 45 Local Government (Clerks) Act 1931 Section 5(4).In section 15 the definition of "Joint committee". 22 & 23 Geo. 5. c. xxxvii Thames Conservancy Act 1932 Section 98. 23 & 24 Geo. 5. c. 12 Children and Young Persons Act 1933 In section 107(1), the definition of "police authority". 23 & 24 Geo. 5. c. 51 Local Government Act 1933 Section 157(2).In section 159(1) the words from "including" to the end.In section 305 the definition of "Standing joint committee". 1 Edw. 8. & 1 Geo. 6. c. 6 Public Order Act 1936 In section 9(1), the definition of "chief officer of police". 1 Edw. 8. & 1 Geo. 6. c. 12 Firearms Act 1937 In section 32(1), in the definition of "area" the words from "as defined" to the end, and the definition of "chief officer of police". 2 & 3 Geo. 6. c. 44 House to House Collections Act 1939 In section 11(1) the definitions of "police area", "police authority" and "chief officer of police". 2 & 3 Geo. 6. c. 103 Police and Firemen (War Service) Act 1939 In section 10(3), the definition of "chief officer of a police force".