Legal background
The legislation relating to policing in England and Wales is set out in a number of statutes. The principal enactments are as follows:
	The Police Act 1996 ("the 1996 Act") provides for the organisation of police forces in England and Wales (including of the Metropolitan Police Service, the City of London Police (see also the City of London Police Act 1839) and the 41 police forces outside London (Schedule 1 to the Act lists the police areas outside London)); sets out the functions of the Secretary of State (in practice, the Home Secretary) in relation to policing; confers certain functions on the College of Policing, including in respect of the preparation of regulations made by the Home Secretary about the government, administration and conditions of service of police forces; provides for the inspection of forces by HMIC; provides for the Police Federation and the Police Remuneration Review Body; and makes provision in respect of disciplinary matters.
	Part 1 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 ("the 2011 Act") provides for the governance of police forces and, in particular, provides for the oversight of police forces outside London by directly elected PCCs and of the Metropolitan Police Force by MOPAC. The Common Council remains the police authority for the City of London Police (see section 6AZA of the 1996 Act). The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 ("the 2009 Act") (as amended by the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016) would enable the functions of a PCC to be undertaken by the directly elected mayor of a combined authority area. Collectively PCCs, MOPAC and the Common Council are referred to in the 2011 Act and elsewhere as local policing bodies.
	Part 2 of the Police Reform Act 2002 ("the 2002 Act") establishes the IPCC, sets out its functions and makes provision for the handling of complaints against the police.
	Provisions in respect of the powers of police officers are contained in multiple statutes, but the core powers to prevent, detect and investigate crime are set out in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 ("PACE").
	Part 4 of the 2002 Act makes provision in respect of the designation of police staff with certain specified powers of a police officer.