Police reform and social responsibility act

Status of the bill: Enacted

Main purpose of the bill:

"To make provision about the administration and governance of police forces; about the licensing of, and for the imposition of a late night levy in relation to, the sale and supply of alcohol; for the repeal of sections 132 to 138 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 and for the prohibition of certain activities in Parliament Square; to enable provision in local authority byelaws to include powers of seizure and forfeiture; about the control of dangerous or otherwise harmful drugs; to restrict the issue of arrest warrants for certain extra-territorial offences; and for connected purposes."

Main points of the bill:

Abolishes police authorities and replaces them with directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners for each police force outside London, to be introduced from May 2012.

Replaces the Metropolitan Police Authority with the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime, to be run by the Mayor of London. (The Queen will continue to appoint the Metropolitan Commissioner and the Deputy Metropolitan Commissioner on the advice of the Home Secretary.)

Sets out the basic duties of a Police and Crime Commissioner, including publishing a police and crime plan, setting the local police and crime objectives, and setting the local precept and annual force budget (including contingency reserves) in discussion with the chief constable.

Provides for Police and Crime Commissioners to appoint and, if necessary, suspend or dismiss the chief constable of their police force. The chief constable will retain control of all other officers of the police force.

Provides for the establishment of Police and Crime Panels for each police area to advise and scrutinise the work of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Restores the right to non-violent protest around Parliament through repealing sections 132-138 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (SOCPA) 2005; also prohibits encampments and other disruptive behaviour in Parliament Square.

Provides for amendments to the Licensing Act 2003 in order to give the police and local authorities much stronger powers to remove licenses from, or refuse to grant licenses to, any premises that are causing problems.

Allows local councils to charge more for late-night licenses to pay for additional policing.

Provides for doubling the maximum fine for premises which persistently sell alcohol to under 18s, and for increasing the period of suspensions which can be imposed on such premises.

Introduces greater flexibility in relation to the scrutiny and utility of temporary event notices.

Amends the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 by introducing a new power for the Secretary of State to temporarily ban new psychoactive substances ('legal highs') for up to one year whilst the health issues are considered by independent experts.

Amends the constitution of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to allow greater flexibility in the membership of the Council.

Amends the Greater London Authority Act 1999 and the Local Government Act 1972 to enable local authorities to attach powers of seizure and retention of any property in connection with the breach of a byelaw.

Amends the process for issuing private arrest warrants for universal jurisdiction offences.

Progress of the bill:

The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill was included in the Queen's Speech on 25th May 2010.

Commons:
First Reading: 30.11.10 Second Reading: 13.12.10 Committee Stage: 18.01.11 20.01.11 25.01.11 27.01.11 01.02.11 03.02.11 08.02.11 10.02.11 15.02.11 17.02.11 Report Stage: 30.03.11 31.03.11 Third Reading: 31.03.11

Lords:
First Reading: 01.04.11 Second Reading: 27.04.11 Committee Stage: 11.05.11 18.05.11 24.05.11 06.06.11 09.06.11 16.06.11 Report Stage: 29.06.11 04.07.11 11.07.11 13.07.11 14.07.11 Third Reading: 20.07.11

Ping Pong: 12.09.11 14.09.11 Royal Assent: 15.09.11