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Policing and Crime Act 2009

The Policing and Crime Act 2009
Long title
Citation 2009 c 26
Introduced by Jacqui Smith (Home Secretary) and Lord West of Spithead
Territorial extent England and Wales
Scotland
Northern Ireland
Dates
Royal assent 12 November 2009
Commencement 12 November 2009 (in part)
30 November 2009 (in part)
25 January 2010 (in part)
29 January 2010 (in part)
2 March 2010 (in part)
12 March 2010 (in part)
15 March 2010 (in part)
1 April 2010 (in part)
Other legislation
Relates to S.I. 2009/3096, S.I. 2010/52, S.I. 2010/125, S.I. 2010/507
Status: Current legislation
History of passage through Parliament
Text of statute as originally enacted
Revised text of statute as amended

The Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c 26) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Act makes provision about police reform, prostitutes, sex offenders, sex establishments and certain other premises. It amends the law on aviation security, alcohol misuse, proceeds of crime, extradition and gang related violence.

The legislation came about due to a number of recommendations in government reports seeking an increase in public accountability. This led to a green paper about policing in which ways in which policing could be improved were discussed, which in turn led to the creation of the Policing Pledge. This then became a Government Bill and was introduced to the House of Commons on 18 December 2008, passing to the House of Lords on 20 May 2009, gaining Royal Assent and becoming law on 12 November 2009.

The Act has received a mixed reception, with improved police accountability being praised and the changes to sexual entertainment licenses and prostitution being criticised by senior members of the Police Service as well as other interested parties.

There were initially proposals that the Act would allow the public to elect crime and policing representatives to run their local police service, but these plans were removed from the bill before it was laid before the house. Nevertheless, the Act still requires police authorities to have regard for the views of people in the police area. The election of crime and policing representatives was subsequently introduced in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, which established Police and Crime Commissioners.

The Act emanated from a number of recommendations in government reports on police reform and jurisdiction, and on engaging local communities in fighting crime and holding their local police service to account. When it was proposed in the Queen's Speech in 2008, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) President Ken Jones said "We welcome the Government’s continued commitment to assist the police service in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour and to strengthen our ability to protect our ports and borders."


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