The Secretary of State must issue a code of practice giving guidance to enforcing authorities about the exercise of their functions under sections 14 to 23.
The Secretary of State may revise the code from time to time.
The code and any revised code—
must not be issued unless a draft has been laid before Parliament, and
comes into force on such day as the Secretary of State appoints by regulations.
The Secretary of State must publish the code and any revised code.
An enforcing authority must have regard to the current version of the code in exercising its functions under sections 14 to 23.