Summary Part 5: Miscellaneous
24.Sections 145 to 149 introduce two new offences. Section 145 creates a new offence of interference with contractual and similar relationships with the intention of harming an animal research organisation. Section 146 creates a further offence criminalising the intimidation of specified persons connected with an animal research organisation. Section 148 defines ‘an animal research organisation’ for the purpose of this legislation. Section 147 contains the penalties for offences, and section 149 contains a power for the legislation to be extended by means of affirmative resolution and describes the circumstances in which that power may used.
25.Sections 150 to 152 introduce a new offence of using an incorrectly registered vehicle and confer powers on the police to require the production of vehicle registration documents and to seize vehicles driven by someone who does not have appropriate insurance or a valid driving licence. Section 153 provides for the disclosure of information about the insurance status of vehicles. Section 154 amends the provisions of the Road Traffic Act relating to breath tests. Sections 155 and 156 enable payments to be made to police authorities in relation to the enforcement of certain traffic offences; such payments would be funded from revenue from fixed penalty notices.
26.Section 157 requires police authorities to publish an annual "local policing summary" and confers powers on the Home Secretary to set minimum requirements in respect of the information to be included in such summaries.
27.Section 158 provides that liability for breaches of health and safety legislation by police forces will normally rest with the office of Chief Constable rather than with the office holder.
28.Section 159 and Schedule 11 amend Part 2 of the Police Reform Act 2002 which sets out the framework for the investigation of complaints against and misconduct by police officers and police staff. The amendments provide that disciplinary action may, in certain serious cases, be taken against a police officer before the point at which an investigation into a complaint or misconduct relating to that officer would normally be completed. Section 160 and Schedule 12 provide for the investigation of deaths and serious injuries where there is no suggestion of misconduct.
29.Sections 161 and 162 and Schedule 13 provide for the abolition of the Royal Parks Constabulary and for the transfer of responsibility for policing the Royal Parks to the Metropolitan Police.
30.Sections 163 to 168 and Schedule 14 make amendments to Part 5 of the Police Act 1997 which sets out the framework under which the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Disclosure Scotland operate. In particular, the amendments extend the range of law enforcement agencies from whom non-conviction information may be obtained and enable the CRB and Disclosure Scotland to access passport, driving licence and national insurance number data in order to verify the identity of applicants for a criminal record disclosure.
31.Sections 169 and 170 alter one of the tests for the issue, by the courts, of a witness summons.
32.Section 171 and Schedule 15 extend the provisions of the Private Security Industry Act 2001 to Scotland and thereby provide for the licensing by the Security Industry Authority of security operatives in Scotland.