Policing and Crime Act 2017

A wide-ranging Act that made significant changes to police governance and accountability, amended the mental health detention provisions (reducing the section 136 detention period and ending the use of police cells as a place of safety in most cases), introduced super-complaints, replaced the IPCC with the Independent Office for Police Conduct, and extended the police powers relating to child sexual exploitation.

Key Provisions

• Amendments to Mental Health Act 1983: section 136 detention reduced to 24 hours
• Police cells no longer a place of safety for adults under section 136 (save exceptionally)
• Section 22: replaced IPCC with Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)
• Section 29: super-complaints (consumer groups may raise systemic concerns)
• Part 2: collaboration and mergers of emergency services
• Part 4: licensing of sex establishments
• Section 60: pre-charge bail limited to 28 days (amended by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022)

Relevance to Policing

Key reference for the creation of the IOPC, the mental health pathway reforms, and the restriction of pre-charge bail.