#2026/597Police Conduct Amendment Regulations 2026
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
This law updates the professional standard for police use of force in England and Wales. It says police officers may use force only when they honestly believe it is necessary, and that any force used must be necessary, proportionate, and reasonable. The change affects police officers, former officers facing conduct allegations, police chiefs, local policing bodies, and the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Allegations already known before 30 June 2026, and closely related later allegations tied to those earlier cases, continue under the old rules.
AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.
Key Changes
- Updates the police professional behaviour standard on use of force
- Requires officers to honestly believe force is necessary before using it
- Keeps pre-30 June 2026 conduct allegations under the previous rules
Obligations
What this law requires
From 30 June 2026, police officers must use force only where they honestly believe the use of force is necessary.
When police officers use force, the force used must be necessary, proportionate, and reasonable.
Pre-commencement conduct allegations against police officers or former police officers that came to the attention of a local policing body, chief officer of police, or the Director General of the Independent Office for Police Conduct before 30 June 2026 must continue to be handled under the pre-30 June 2026 rules rather than the amended use-of-force standard.
Where a later allegation against the same police officer or former police officer relates to a matter already covered by a pre-commencement allegation, and the earlier allegation is still being handled under the Police Conduct Regulations 2020 as previously in force or Part 2 of the Police Reform Act 2002, the amended use-of-force standard must not be applied to that later related allegation.