Atomic Energy Authority (Special Constables) Act 1976
1976 c.23
An Act to extend the powers relating to firearms of special constables appointed on the nomination of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority; to extend the property in respect of which, and the places where, they may exercise those and their other powers; to make certain minor amendments about their powers; and for connected purposes.
[10th June 1976]
1. Extension of powers of special constables as regards firearms.
— (1) For the purposes of
— (a)
section 54 of the
Firearms Act 1968 (application to Crown servants and treating the police as being in the service of Her Majesty), and
(b)
any rule of law whereby any provision of that Act does not bind the Crown,
an Authority constable shall be deemed to be a person in the service of Her Majesty.
(2) In the application by virtue of subsection (1) above of subsection (2)( a ) of the said section 54 (acquisition by persons in such service of firearms for the public service without certificate) the reference to the public service shall be deemed to be a reference to use by any Authority constable in exercising his functions as such. 2. Extension of property in respect of which special constables may excercise their powers.
In Schedule 1 to the
Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (which is set out in the Schedule to the
Atomic Energy Authority Act 1971)the following sub-paragraph shall be added on to the end of paragraph 4 (which extends section 3 of the
Special Constables Act 1923 so as to provide for the appointment of persons nominated by the Authority to be special constables in and within 15 miles of premises under the control of specified bodies corporate)
— " ( 3 ) For the purposes of section 2 of the Metropolitan Police Act 1860 ( which limits the use of the powers of special constables to property of the Crown in certain circumstances ) any property of the specified body corporate shall be deemed to be property of the Crown ; and in this sub-paragraph property of the specified body corporate includes property which ( though not owned by them ) is in their possession or under their control and property which has been unlawfully removed from their possession or control. "
(2) Accordingly, in section 19(1) of the Atomic Energy Authority Act 1971 (application to designated companies of security provisions set uot in the Schedule to that Act) after the words “ set out in the Schedule to that Act ” there shall be inserted the words “ and as amended by section 2(1) of the Atomic Energy Authority (Special Constables) Act 1976 ” .
(3) In Schedule 3 to the Atomic Energy Authority Act 1954, after the words “ For the purposes of section two of the Metropolitan Police Act, 1860, any property of the Authority shall be deemed to be property of the Crown ” there shall be added the words “ ; and in this paragraph property of the Authority includes property which (though not owned by them) is in their possession or under their control and property which has been unlawfully removed from their possession or control ” . 3. — . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4. Citation, interpretation, minor amendments and extent.
— (1) This Act may be cited as the Atomic Energy Authority (Special Constables) Act 1976.
(2) In this Act — “ Authority ” means the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority;
“ Authority constable ” means a person appointed under section 3 of the
Special Constables Act 1923 to be a special constable on the nomination of the Authority;
(3) Except in so far as the context otherwise requires, a reference in this Act to any other enactment is a reference to it as amended, and includes a reference to it as extended or applied, by or under any other enactment, including one contained in this Act.
(4) In the application of the proviso to section 2 of the Metropolitan Police Act 1860 (restriction of powers of constables when outside certain yards etc.) to the powers and privileges of Authority constables, for the words from “ yards ” to “ service ” there shall be substituted the words “ premises (but within the limits) within which they were appointed to act as constables ” and the words from “ or of persons ” to “ discipline ” shall be omitted.
(5) This Act does not extend to Northern Ireland. 
