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.
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 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:
The commission noted that of 158 police forces in Great Britain, 97 had an establishment of less than 350.
The act received royal assent on 10 June 1964. Among its provisions were:
Section 64(3) of the act repealed 81 enactments, listed in parts I and II of the schedule 10 to the act.
| Citation | Short title | Extent 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".
In section 14, in the definitions of "appropriate authority" and "constable" the words "within the meaning of the Police Pensions Act 1921". |
| 8 & 9 Geo. 6. c. 11 | Police (His Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary) Act 1945 | The whole act. |
| 9 & 10 Geo. 6. c. 46 | Police Act 1946 | The whole act. |
| 9 & 10 Geo. 6. c. 49 | Acquisition of Land (Authorisation Procedure) Act 1946 | In Schedule 4, the entry relating to the Police Act 1946. |
| 9 & 10 Geo. 6. c. 62 | National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act 1946 | In section 78, the words "within the meaning of the Police Pensions Act 1921". |
| 10 & 11 Geo. 6. c. 41 | Fire Services Act 1947 | In section 38(1), the definitions of "chief officer of police", "police area", "police authority" and "police force". |
| 12, 13 & 14 Geo. 6. c. 5 | Civil Defence Act 1948 | In section 3(3), the words from "that is to say" to the end. In section 9(1), the definition of "police force". |
| 12, 13 & 14 Geo. 6. c. 67 | Civil Aviation Act 1949 | In Schedule 6, paragraph 8(4). |
| 12, 13 & 14 Geo. 6. c. 68 | Representation of the People Act 1949 | Section 87(3)(a). |
| 14 Geo. 6. c. 21 | Miscellaneous Financial Provisions Act 1950 | Section 3. |
| 14 Geo. 6. c. 36 | Diseases of Animals Act 1950 | In section 84(4) the definition of "police area" and "police force". |
| 14 & 15 Geo. 6. c. 65 | Reserve and Auxiliary Forces (Protection of Civil Interests) Act 1951 | In section 23(1) the definition of "police force" and, in the definition of "relevant police authority" the words from "maintained" to "other police force" and the words "(within the meaning of the Police Pensions Act 1921)".
In Schedule 2, in Part I, in paragraph 4, in column 2, the words from the beginning to "any other police force" and the words "(within the meaning of the Police Pensions Act 1921)". |
| 15 & 16 Geo. 6. & 1 Eliz. 2. c. 55 | Magistrates' Courts Act 1952 | In section 109(6) the words from "the expression 'police authority'" to "1921; and". |
| 5 & 6 Eliz. 2. c. 1 | Police, Fire and Probation Officers Remuneration Act 1956 | Section 1(1)(a). |
| 6 & 7 Eliz. 2. c. 55 | Local Government Act 1958 | In Schedule 8, paragraph 18. |
| 8 & 9 Eliz. 2. c. 16 | Road Traffic Act 1960 | Section 202(3). In section 257(1) the definition of "chief officer of police". |
| 8 & 9 Eliz. 2. c. 63 | Road Traffic and Roads Improvement Act 1960 | In section 2, in subsection (8) the words from "and any proceedings" to the end, and in subsection (10) the words from "and" to "to those expenses". |
| 1963 c. 2 | Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963 | In Schedule 2, paragraph 1(5), paragraph 3(1) and in paragraph 3(2) the word "other". In Schedule 3, in paragraph 1(b), the words "except in sub-paragraph 5(b) of the said paragraph 1." |
| Citation | Short title | Extent of repeal |
|---|---|---|
| 4 & 5 Geo. 5. c. 44 | Metropolitan Police (Employment in Scotland) Act 1914 | The whole act, except as applied by the Special Constables Act 1923. |
| 9 & 10 Geo. 5. c. 46 | Police Act 1919 | The whole act. |
| 11 & 12 Geo. 5. c. 31 | Police Pensions Act 1921 | The whole act except sections 10 and 30 and Schedule 3. |
| 13 & 14 Geo. 5. c. 11 | Special Constables Act 1923 | In section 5 the words from "and the" to the end. |
| 17 & 18 Geo. 5. c. 19 | Police (Appeals) Act 1927 | The whole act except in relation to any punishment imposed before the commencement of this act. |
| 6 & 7 Geo. 6. c. 8 | Police (Appeals) Act 1943 | The whole act except in relation to any punishment imposed before the commencement of this act. |
| 15 & 16 Geo. 6. & 1 Eliz. 2. c. 61 | Prisons (Scotland) Act 1952 | Section 13. |
| 4 & 5 Eliz. 2. c. 26 | Police (Scotland) Act 1956 | In section 1, subsections (2), (3), (4) and (7). Section 10(3). |
| 7 & 8 Eliz. 2. c. 38 | Police Federation Act 1959 | The whole act. |
| 9 & 10 Eliz. 2. c. 51 | Police Federation Act 1961 | The whole act. |
| 10 & 11 Eliz. 2. c. 25 | Police Federations Act 1962 | The whole act. |
Section 65(1) of the act provided that the act may be cited as the "Police Act 1964".
Section 65(2) of the act provided that the act would come into force on a day appointed by the home secretary. Section 65(3) of the act provided that this may be different days for different sections of the act. Section 65(4) of the act provided that such an order may make transitionary provisions as deemed necessary.
The Police Act 1964 (Commencement No. 1) Order 1964 (SI 1964/873) and the Police Act 1964 (Commencement No. 2) Order 1964 (SI 1964/874) provided the commencement dates for the act.
| Police Act 1964 (Commencement No. 1) Order 1964 | |
|---|---|
| Statutory Instrument | |
.svg) | |
| Citation | SI 1964/873 |
| Dates | |
| Made | 16 June 1964 |
Status: Current legislation | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Police Act 1964 (Commencement No. 2) Order 1964 | |
|---|---|
| Statutory Instrument | |
| |
| Citation | SI 1964/874 |
| Dates | |
| Made | 16 June 1964 |
Status: Current legislation | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
Section 65(5) of the act provided that the following enactments would extend to Scotland: part III, section 59 and schedule 7, section 63 and schedule 9, so far as they relate to enactments extending to Scotland, section 64 and Part II of schedule 10, and section 65.
Section 65(6) of the act provided that the act would not extend to Northern Ireland.
On 10 July 1964, the Home Secretary, Henry Brooke, announced he would be using his powers under the act to amalgamate the county borough forces of Luton and Northampton with the county forces of Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire respectively.
Luton's force had only been formed on 1 April, when it became a county borough, but Mr Brooke said he did not regard the continuance of its existence as in the best interests of policing efficiency. The amalgamations were vigorously, but unsuccessfully, opposed by the boroughs: Luton's campaign went as far as serving a High Court writ on the Home Secretary in an attempt to stop the merger.
In the meantime, the first amalgamation under the act took place on 1 April 1965 as the result of local government reorganisation, with the formation of the Mid Anglia Constabulary.
Following a change in government at the general election, Frank Soskice became Home Secretary. In 1965 he announced that Exeter City's force would be merged with that of Devon. In addition to the Bedfordshire/Luton, Devon/Exeter, and Northamptonshire/Northampton mergers, 1966 saw the establishment of a new West Midlands Constabulary covering the county boroughs of Dudley, Walsall, Warley, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton, which had been constituted or enlarged by local government reorganisation.
On 16 May 1966, the new Home Secretary, Roy Jenkins announced that the number of police forces in England and Wales was to be reduced from 117 to 49. Where the local authorities concerned did not agree a voluntary scheme he would make a compulsory amalgamation.
The amalgamations carried out under the act differed slightly from the original scheme announced in 1966. In Yorkshire, The North and East Riding constabularies were combined with York City Police, while the borough forces of Hull and Teesside were allowed to continue unmerged. Stockport Borough Police were amalgamated with the Cheshire Constabulary instead of with Manchester and Salford, and the scheme for a Tyneside force was dropped when the Local Government Commission's recommendations were not carried out. Instead Northumberland Constabulary was merged with the two county boroughs north of the Tyne, and Durham Constabulary absorbed those on south Tyneside.
| Date | New force | Old forces |
|---|---|---|
| 1 April 1965 | Mid Anglia Constabulary | Cambridgeshire Constabulary, Cambridge City Police, Huntingdonshire Constabulary, Isle of Ely Constabulary, Peterborough Combined Police |
| 1 April 1966 | Bedfordshire and Luton Constabulary | Bedfordshire, Luton Borough Police |
| 1 April 1966 | Northampton and County Constabulary | Northamptonshire, Northampton Borough Police |
| 1 April 1966 | West Midlands Constabulary | Dudley Borough Police, Walsall Borough Police, Wolverhampton Borough Police; also areas from Staffordshire Constabulary, Worcestershire Constabulary. |
| 1 October 1966 | Devon and Exeter Police | Devon Constabulary, Exeter City Police |
| 1 January 1967 | Somerset and Bath Constabulary | Somerset Constabulary, Bath City Police |
| 1 April 1967 | Cumbria Constabulary | Cumberland and Westmorland Constabulary, Carlisle City Police |
| 1 April 1967 | Derby County and Borough Constabulary | Derbyshire Constabulary, Derby Borough Police |
| 1 April 1967 | Devon and Cornwall Constabulary | Devon and Exeter Police, Plymouth City Police, Cornwall Constabulary |
| 1 April 1967 | Durham County Constabulary | Durham County, Sunderland Borough Police |
| 1 April 1967 | Gwent Constabulary | Newport Borough Police, Monmouthshire Constabulary |
| 1 April 1967 | Hampshire Constabulary | Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, Portsmouth City Police, Southampton City Police |
| 1 April 1967 | Leicester and Rutland Constabulary | Leicestershire and Rutland Constabulary, Leicester City Police |
| 1 April 1967 | Lincolnshire Constabulary | Lincolnshire, Grimsby Borough Police, Lincoln City Police |
| 1 April 1967 | Liverpool and Bootle Constabulary | Liverpool City Police, Bootle Borough Police |
| 1 April 1967 | Suffolk Constabulary | East Suffolk Constabulary, West Suffolk Constabulary, Ipswich Borough Police |
| 1 June 1967 | South Wales Constabulary | Glamorgan Constabulary, Cardiff City Police, Merthyr Tydfil Borough Police, Swansea Borough Police |
| 1 June 1967 | Sheffield and Rotherham Constabulary | Sheffield City Police, Rotherham Borough Police |
| 1 July 1967 | Cheshire Constabulary | Cheshire, Birkenhead Borough Police, Stockport Borough Police, Wallasey Borough Police |
| 1 October 1967 | Dorset and Bournemouth Constabulary | Dorset Constabulary, Bournemouth Borough Police |
| 1 October 1967 | Gwynedd Constabulary | Gwynedd Constabulary, Denbighshire Constabulary, Flintshire Constabulary |
| 1 October 1967 | West Mercia Constabulary | Herefordshire Constabulary, Shropshire Constabulary, Worcestershire Constabulary, Worcester City Police |
| 1 January 1968 | Norfolk Joint Police | Norfolk Constabulary, Great Yarmouth Borough Police, Norwich City Police |
| 1 January 1968 | Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Constabulary | Staffordshire Constabulary, Stoke-on-Trent City Police |
| 1 January 1968 | Sussex Constabulary | East Sussex Constabulary, West Sussex Constabulary, Brighton Borough Police, Eastbourne Borough Police, Hastings Borough Police |
| 1 April 1968 | Dyfed-Powys Constabulary | Carmarthenshire and Cardiganshire Constabulary, Mid Wales Constabulary, Pembrokeshire Constabulary |
| 1 April 1968 | Nottinghamshire Combined Constabulary | Nottinghamshire Constabulary, Nottingham City Police |
| 1 April 1968 | Teesside Constabulary‡ | Middlesbrough Borough Police, parts of the areas of North Riding Constabulary and Durham County Constabulary |
| 1 April 1968 | Thames Valley Constabulary | Berkshire Constabulary, Buckinghamshire Constabulary, Oxfordshire Constabulary, Oxford City Police, Reading Borough Police |
| 1 June 1968 | Manchester and Salford Police | Manchester City Police, Salford City Police |
| 1 July 1968 | York and North East Yorkshire Police | East Riding of Yorkshire Constabulary, North Riding of Yorkshire Constabulary, York City Police |
| 1 October 1968 | Durham County Constabulary | Durham County, Gateshead Borough Police, South Shields Borough Police |
| 1 October 1968 | West Yorkshire Constabulary | West Riding Constabulary, Barnsley Borough Police, Dewsbury Borough Police, Doncaster Borough Police, Halifax Borough Police, Huddersfield Borough Police, Wakefield City Police. |
| 1 April 1969 | Essex and Southend-on-Sea Joint Constabulary | Essex Constabulary, Southend-on-Sea Borough Police |
| 1 April 1969 | Lancashire Constabulary | Lancashire, Barrow-in-Furness Borough Police, Blackburn Borough Police, Blackpool Borough Police, Bolton Borough Police, Burnley Borough Police, Bury Borough Police, Oldham Borough Police, Preston Borough Police, Rochdale Borough Police, St Helens Borough Police, Southport Borough Police, Warrington Borough Police, Wigan Borough Police |
| 1 April 1969 | Northumberland Constabulary | Northumberland Constabulary, Newcastle upon Tyne Borough Police, Tynemouth Borough Police |
| 1969 | Warwickshire and Coventry Constabulary | Warwickshire Constabulary, Coventry City Police |
‡ New county borough
The following territorial police forces were not subject to amalgamations under the 1964 Act:
Several of the amalgamated forces formed under the 1964 act had short existences, as a wholesale reorganisation of local government in England and Wales outside London was carried out in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. Police areas were realigned to correspond to one or more of the non-metropolitan or metropolitan counties created by the 1972 legislation. The sections on the composition of police authorities were repealed by the Police and Magistrates' Courts Act 1994, and new authorities constituted.
The whole act, except sections 37 and 60 to 65, schedule 5 and the provisions of schedule 9 other than the entry relating to the Children and Young Persons Act 1933), was repealed by section 103(3) of, and part I of schedule 9 to, the Police Act 1996, which came into force on 22 August 1996.
Section 64(3) of, and schedule 10 to, the act, together with parts of schedule 9, were repealed by section 1 of, and part XI of the schedule to, the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1974, which came into force on 27 June 1974.
Sections 37, 60–62, 64 (except subsection 2), 65(2)–(4) of, and schedule 5 to, the act were repealed by section 103(3) of, and part II of schedule 9 to, the Police Act 1996, which came into force on 22 August 1996.
