(1)The Police Act 1996 is amended in accordance with subsections (2) to (4).
(2)In section 22A (collaboration agreements)—
(a)in subsection (1)(b), for “and two or more policing bodies” substitute “and—
(i)one or more policing bodies together with one or more other persons, or
(ii)if no other person is a party to the agreement, two or more policing bodies.”;
(b)in subsection (6), for “(1)” substitute “ (1)(a) ”.
(3)In section 23F (collaboration agreements: guidance), after subsection (2) insert—
“(3)The Secretary of State may give other persons who exercise functions of a public nature guidance about collaboration agreements or related matters, and those persons must have regard to the guidance in exercising such functions.”
(4)In section 23G (collaboration agreements: directions), after subsection (2) insert—
“(2A)The Secretary of State may give one or more other persons who exercise functions of a public nature directions about collaboration agreements or related matters.”
(5)Schedule 19 contains amendments in relation to cases where the Director General of the National Crime Agency is a party to a collaboration agreement under section 22A of the Police Act 1996 (as amended by this section).