(1) Each police force must have one or more assistant chief constables.
(2) The chief constable of a police force must consult the relevant police and crime commissioner before appointing a person as an assistant chief constable of the force.
(3) The chief constable of a police force may suspend from duty an assistant chief constable of that police force.
(4) The chief constable of a police force may call upon an assistant chief constable of that police force to resign or retire.
(5) An assistant chief constable must resign or retire if called upon to do so by the chief constable in accordance with subsection (4).
(6) Subsections (2) to (5) are subject to regulations under section 50 of the Police Act 1996.
(7) Subsections (3) to (5) are subject to Part 3 of Schedule 8 (suspension and removal of other senior police officers).
(8) In this section “police force” means the police force for a police area listed in Schedule 1 to the Police Act 1996 (police areas outside London).
41 Power of deputy to exercise functions of chief constable
(1) The appropriate deputy chief constable of a police force may exercise or perform any or all of the functions of the chief constable of the force—
(a) during any period when the chief constable is unable to exercise functions, or
(b) at any other time, with the consent of the chief constable.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the appropriate deputy chief constable is—
(a) if the police force has only one deputy chief constable, the deputy chief constable;
(b) if the police force has more than one deputy chief constable, the most senior deputy chief constable.
(3) If the police force has more than one deputy chief constable, the chief constable must designate the deputy chief constables in order of seniority for the purposes of subsection (2)(b).
(4) During any absence, incapacity or suspension from duty of the person who—
(a) is designated as the most senior deputy chief constable for the purposes of subsection (2)(b), or
(b) is treated under this section as the most senior deputy chief constable,
the person designated as the next most senior deputy chief constable is to be treated as the most senior one for the purposes of subsection (2)(b).
(5) The assistant chief constable designated for this purpose by the chief constable of the force may exercise any or all of the chief constable's functions during any period when—
(a) the chief constable is unable to exercise functions, and
(b) a deputy chief constable is unable to exercise functions.
(6) The chief constable of the force must designate an assistant chief constable of the force for the purposes of subsection (5).
(7) Only one person is authorised to act at any one time by virtue of a designation by the chief constable.
(8) The chief constable must consult the relevant police and crime commissioner before making a designation for the purposes of subsection (2)(b) or (5).
(9) This section is without prejudice to any other enactment that makes provision for a person other than the chief constable to exercise the chief constable's functions.
(10) In a case where a deputy chief constable or assistant chief constable (the “acting chief constable”) is authorised by subsection (1)(a) or (5) to exercise or perform functions of a chief constable—
(a) section 38(2) and (3) apply in relation to the acting chief constable as they apply in relation to the chief constable (and references to chief constables in those provisions, and in other enactments relating to those provisions, are to be read accordingly); and
(b) section 39(4) and (5) or section 40(3) and (4) do not apply in relation to the acting chief constable.
(11) In this section—
(a) “police force” means the police force for a police area listed in Schedule 1 to the Police Act 1996 (police areas outside London);
(b) a reference to a period when the chief constable is unable to exercise functions is a reference to a period when—
(i) the chief constable is absent, incapacitated or suspended from duty, or
(ii) the office of chief constable is vacant;
(c) a reference to a period when a deputy chief constable is unable to exercise functions is a reference to a period when—
(i) the deputy chief constable, or each of the deputy chief constables, is absent, incapacitated or suspended from duty, or
(ii) the office of deputy chief constable, or of each deputy chief constable, is vacant.
42 Appointment of Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
(1) The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is to be appointed by Her Majesty by warrant under Her sign manual.
(2) A constable holds office as the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis at Her Majesty's pleasure.
(3) The Secretary of State may not recommend to Her Majesty that She appoint a person as the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis unless that person is eligible for appointment; and, before making such a recommendation, the Secretary of State must have regard to any recommendations made by the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime.
(3A) A person is eligible for appointment if the person is or has been—
(a) a constable in any part of the United Kingdom, or
(b) a police officer in an approved overseas police force, of at least the approved rank.
(3AA) But a person who would be eligible for appointment by virtue of subsection (3A) is not eligible for appointment at a time when the person is included in
(a) the police barred list maintained under section 88B of the Police Act 1996;
(b) the British Transport Police barred list (within the meaning of section 211 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026;
(c) the Civil Nuclear Constabulary barred list (within the meaning of that section);
(d) the Ministry of Defence Police barred list (within the meaning of that section);
(e) the National Crime Agency barred list (within the meaning of that section);
(f) the Scottish police barred list maintained under section 59A of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 8).
(3B) An “approved overseas police force” is a police force which—
(a) is in a country or territory outside the United Kingdom designated by regulations made by the Secretary of State, and
(b) is designated in relation to that country or territory by the regulations.
(3C) The “approved rank” for an approved overseas police force is the rank which is designated as the approved rank for that police force by the regulations.
(3D) The College of Policing must recommend to the Secretary of State matters to be designated under this section.
(3E) The Secretary of State may make regulations under this section only if they give effect to a recommendation under subsection (3D).
(4) The appointment of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is subject to regulations under section 50 of the Police Act 1996.
43 Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
(1) The Metropolitan Police force has one Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.
(2) The Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is to be appointed by Her Majesty by warrant under Her sign manual.
(3) A person holds office as the Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis at Her Majesty's pleasure.
(3A) The Secretary of State may not recommend to Her Majesty that She appoint a person as the Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis unless that person is eligible for appointment.
(3B) A person is not eligible for appointment at a time when the person is included in
(a) the police barred list maintained under section 88B of the Police Act 1996;
(b) the British Transport Police barred list (within the meaning of section 211 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026;
(c) the Civil Nuclear Constabulary barred list (within the meaning of that section);
(d) the Ministry of Defence Police barred list (within the meaning of that section);
(e) the National Crime Agency barred list (within the meaning of that section);
(f) the Scottish police barred list maintained under section 59A of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 8).
(4) Before recommending to Her Majesty that She appoint a person as the Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, the Secretary of State must have regard to—
(a) any recommendations made by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, and
(b) any representations made by the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime.
(5) The appointment of the Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is subject to regulations under section 50 of the Police Act 1996.
44 Functions of Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
(1) The Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis may exercise any or all of the powers and duties of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis—
(a) during any absence, incapacity or suspension from duty of the Commissioner,
(b) during any vacancy in the office of Commissioner, or
(c) at any other time, with the consent of the Commissioner.
(2) The Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis does not have power to act by virtue of subsection (1)(a) or (b) for a continuous period exceeding three months, except with the consent of the Secretary of State.
(3) The Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has all the powers and duties of an Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.
45 Assistant Commissioners of Police of the Metropolis
(1) The metropolitan police force must have one or more Assistant Commissioners of Police of the Metropolis.
(2) The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis must consult the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime before appointing a person as an Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.
(3) The appointment of a person as an Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is subject to regulations under section 50 of the Police Act 1996.
(4) An Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis may exercise any of the powers and duties of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis with the consent of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.
(5) Subsection (4) is without prejudice to regulations under section 50 of the Police Act 1996.
(6) In a case where an Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is acting in place of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis—
(a) section 48 applies in relation to the Assistant Commissioner as it applies to the Commissioner (and references to the Commissioner in that section, and in other enactments relating to that section, are to be read accordingly); and
(b) section 49 does not apply in relation to the Assistant Commissioner.
(7) For the purposes of subsection (6), an Assistant Commissioner is to be taken to be acting in place of the Commissioner at a particular time if—
(a) the Assistant Commissioner is, at that time, authorised by subsection (4) to exercise powers and duties of the Commissioner, and
(b) that time falls during—
(i) any absence, incapacity or suspension from office of the Commissioner, or
(ii) any vacancy in the office of Commissioner.
46 Deputy Assistant Commissioners of Police of the Metropolis
(1) The metropolitan police force must have one or more Deputy Assistant Commissioners of Police of the Metropolis.
(2) The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis must consult the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime before appointing a person as a Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.
(3) The appointment of a person as a Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is subject to regulations under section 50 of the Police Act 1996.
(1) The metropolitan police force must have one or more Commanders.
(2) The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis must consult the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime before appointing a person as a Commander.
(3) The appointment of a person as a Commander is subject to regulations under section 50 of the Police Act 1996.
48 Suspension and removal of Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner
(1) The Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime may, with the approval of the Secretary of State—
(a) suspend the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis from duty, or
(b) suspend the Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis from duty.
(2) If the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime suspends the Commissioner, or Deputy Commissioner, from duty, that Office must notify the Secretary of State of the suspension.
(3) The Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime may, subject to subsections (5) and (6), and with the approval of the Secretary of State—
(a) call upon the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to resign or retire, or
(b) call upon the Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to resign or retire.
(4) The Commissioner, or Deputy Commissioner, must resign or retire if called upon to do so in accordance with subsection (3).
(5) Before calling upon the Commissioner, or Deputy Commissioner, to retire or resign, the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime must—
(a) give the police officer a written explanation of the reasons why the Office is proposing to call for the retirement or resignation;
(b) give the police officer the opportunity to make written representations about the proposal to call for the police officer's resignation or retirement; and
(c) consider any written representations made by the police officer.
(6) The Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime must comply with subsection (5) before seeking the approval of the Secretary of State to call upon the Commissioner, or Deputy Commissioner, to retire or resign.
(7) This section is subject to regulations under section 50 of the Police Act 1996.
(8) This section is without prejudice to—
(a) section 42(2);
(b) section 43(3); or
(c) regulations under the Police Pensions Act 1976.
49 Suspension and removal of other senior metropolitan police officers
(1) The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis may suspend a senior metropolitan police officer from duty.
(2) If the Commissioner suspends a senior metropolitan police officer from duty, the Commissioner must notify the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime of the suspension.
(3) The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis may, subject to subsection (5), and after consulting the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime, call upon a senior metropolitan police officer to resign or retire.
(4) A senior metropolitan police officer must resign or retire if called upon to do so in accordance with subsection (3).
(5) Before calling upon a senior metropolitan police officer to retire or resign, the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis must—
(a) give the police officer a written explanation of the reasons why the Commissioner is proposing to call for the retirement or resignation;
(b) give the police officer the opportunity to make written representations about the proposal to call for the police officer's resignation or retirement; and
(c) consider any written representations made by the police officer.
(6) This section is subject to regulations under section 50 of the Police Act 1996.
(7) This section is without prejudice to regulations under the Police Pensions Act 1976.
(8) In this section “senior metropolitan police officer” means any of the following—
(a) an Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis;
(b) a Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis;
(c) a Commander.
(1) An election of police and crime commissioners for all police areas (an “ordinary election”) is to be held—
(a) in 2012;
(b) in each subsequent fourth year.
(2) The poll at the ordinary election of police and crime commissioners in 2012 is to be held on 15 November 2012.
(3) The poll at an ordinary election of police and crime commissioners in any year after 2012 is to be held on the first Thursday in May in the year of the election.
(4) But, if the Secretary of State ... so specifies in an order, the poll at an ordinary election of police and crime commissioners in any year after 2012 is to be held on such day in the year of the election as may be specified in the order.
(5) An order under subsection (4)—
(a) may not specify, as the day of a poll, a day which is before the first Thursday in May in the year of the election;
(b) may not be made within the period of six months ending with the first Thursday in May in the year of the election (or the first of the elections) to which the order relates.
(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(7) The term of office of a person elected as a police and crime commissioner at an ordinary election—
(a) begins with the seventh day after the day of the poll at the election, and
(b) ends with the sixth day after the day of the poll at the next ordinary election of police and crime commissioners.
(8) Subsection (7) is subject to any provision of or made under this or any other Act relating to the appointment or election of police and crime commissioners or their ceasing to hold office.
51 Election to fill vacancy in office of commissioner
(1) This section applies where a vacancy occurs in the office of police and crime commissioner for a police area.
(2) An election must be held to fill the vacancy.
(3) The police area returning officer must fix the date of the poll at the election.
(4) The date fixed must be not more than 35 days after the relevant event (computed in accordance with section 73).
(5) For the purposes of subsection (4), “the relevant event” means—
(a) in a case where the High Court or the appropriate officer has declared the office to be vacant, the making of that declaration;
(b) in any other case, the giving of notice of the vacancy to the appropriate officer by two or more relevant electors.
(6) A person is a relevant elector for the purposes of subsection (5) in relation to a police area in England if the person is registered in a register of local government electors in respect of an address within the police area.
(6A) A person is a relevant elector for the purposes of subsection (5) in relation to a police area in Wales if subsection (6B) or (6C) applies.
(6B) This subsection applies if—
(a) the person is registered in a register of parliamentary electors in respect of an address within the police area, and
(b) the registration is not in pursuance of an overseas elector's declaration.
(6C) This subsection applies if—
(a) the person is —
(i) disqualified as a peer from voting as an elector at parliamentary elections, or
(ii) a qualifying EU citizen, or an EU citizen with retained rights, who has attained the age of 18, and
(b) the person is registered in a register of local government electors in respect of an address within the police area.
(7) If the vacancy occurs within the period of six months ending with the day of the poll at the next ordinary election of police and crime commissioners—
(a) no election is to be held under subsection (2) in respect of the vacancy, and
(b) accordingly, the office is to be left unfilled until that ordinary election.
(8) The term of office of a person elected as a police and crime commissioner for a police area at an election to fill a vacancy in the office—
(a) begins immediately the person is declared to be elected as police and crime commissioner for the area;
(b) ends at the time when it would have ended had the person been elected at the most recent ordinary election of police and crime commissioners.
(9) In the case of a vacancy occurring in consequence of the failure of, or other irregularity in relation to, an election, subsections (3) and (4) have effect subject to any provision made by an order under section 58.
(1) A person is entitled to vote as an elector at an election of a police and crime commissioner for a police area in England if on the date of the poll—
(a) the person would be entitled to vote as an elector at a local government election in an electoral area wholly or partly comprised in the police area, and
(b) the address in respect of which the person is registered in the register of local government electors for that electoral area is within the police area.
(1A) A person is entitled to vote as an elector at an election of a police and crime commissioner for a police area in Wales if subsection (1B) or (1C) applies.
(1B) This subsection applies if on the date of the poll—
(a) the person would be entitled to vote as an elector at a parliamentary election in a constituency wholly or partly comprised in the police area,
(b) the address in respect of which the person is registered in the register of parliamentary electors for that constituency is within the police area, and
(c) the registration is not in pursuance of an overseas elector's declaration.
(1C) This subsection applies if on the date of the poll—
(a) the person is —
(i) disqualified as a peer from voting as an elector at parliamentary elections, or
(ii) a qualifying EU citizen, or an EU citizen with retained rights, who has attained the age of 18,
(b) the person would be entitled to vote as an elector at a local government election in an electoral area wholly or partly comprised in the police area, and
(c) the address in respect of which the person is registered in the register of local government electors for that electoral area is within the police area.
(2) A person is not entitled to vote as an elector more than once in the same police area at any election of a police and crime commissioner.
53 Public awareness about elections: role of Electoral Commission
The Electoral Commission must, in relation to—
(a) each ordinary election of police and crime commissioners under section 50,
(b) each election to fill a vacancy in the office of police and crime commissioner for a police area under section 51,
take such steps as it considers appropriate to raise public awareness about the election and how to vote in it.
(1) The returning officer for an election of a police and crime commissioner for a police area (“the police area returning officer”) is to be a person who—
(a) is an acting returning officer by virtue of section 28(1) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (acting returning officer for parliamentary election) for a constituency falling wholly or partly within the police area, and
(b) is designated for the purposes of this subsection by order of the Secretary of State ....
(2) The Secretary of State ... may by regulations confer functions—
(a) on police area returning officers, and
(b) on local returning officers.
(3) Regulations under subsection (2) may apply or incorporate, with or without modifications or exceptions, any relevant provision.
(4) Each relevant local authority must place the services of its officers at the disposal of any person on whom functions are conferred under subsection (2) in relation to the police area for the purpose of assisting that person in the discharge of those functions.
(5) In this section—
“local authority” means—
a district council,
a county council in England for a county in which there are no district councils,
the Council of the Isles of Scilly,
a county council or county borough council in Wales;
“local election” means an election of members of a local authority;
“local returning officer” means a person who, by virtue of section 35 of the Representation of the People Act 1983, is a returning officer for any local elections;
“relevant local authority”, in relation to a police area, means a local authority whose area falls wholly or partly within the police area;
“relevant provision” means any provision (whenever passed or made) of, or made under, any of the following—
the Representation of the People Acts,
the Local Government Act 1972,
the Local Government Act 2000,
the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000,
...
the Government of Wales Act 2006, and
any other enactment relating to parliamentary elections ... or local government elections.
(1) A returning officer may recover charges in respect of services rendered, or expenses incurred, by the officer for or in connection with an election of a police and crime commissioner if—
(a) the services were necessarily rendered, or the expenses were necessarily incurred, for the efficient and effective conduct of the election, and
(b) the total of the officer's charges does not exceed the amount (“the overall maximum recoverable amount”) specified in, or determined in accordance with, an order made by the Secretary of State, with the consent of the Treasury, for the purposes of this subsection.
(2) An order under subsection (1) may specify, or make provision for determining in accordance with the order, a maximum recoverable amount for services or expenses of any specified description.
(3) Subject to subsection (4), the returning officer may not recover more than the specified maximum recoverable amount in respect of any specified services or expenses.
(4) In a particular case the Secretary of State may authorise the payment of—
(a) more than the overall maximum recoverable amount, or
(b) more than the specified maximum recoverable amount for any specified services or expenses,
if the Secretary of State is satisfied that the conditions in subsection (5) are met.
(5) Those conditions are—
(a) that it was reasonable for the returning officer concerned to render the services or incur the expenses, and
(b) that the charges in question are reasonable.
(6) The amount of any charges recoverable in accordance with this section is to be paid by the Secretary of State on an account being submitted to the Secretary of State.
(7) But the Secretary of State may, before payment, apply for the account to be taxed under section 56.
(8) Where the superannuation contributions required to be paid by a local authority in respect of any person are increased by any fee paid under this section as part of a returning officer's charges at an election of a police and crime commissioner, then on an account being submitted to the Secretary of State a sum equal to the increase must be paid to the authority by the Secretary of State.
(9) On the request of a returning officer for an advance on account of the officer's charges, the Secretary of State may make such an advance on such terms as the Secretary of State thinks fit.
(10) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision as to—
(a) the time when, and
(b) the manner and form in which,
accounts are to be rendered to the Secretary of State for the purposes of the payment of a returning officer's charges.
(11) Any sums required by the Secretary of State for making payments under this section are to be charged on, and paid out of, the Consolidated Fund.
(12) In this section—
“local authority” has the same meaning as in section 54;
“local returning officer” has the same meaning as in that section;
...
“returning officer” means—
a police area returning officer, or
a local returning officer on whom functions are conferred under subsection (2) of section 54;
“specified” means specified in, or determined in accordance with, an order under subsection (1).
(1) Any application under section 55(7) for a returning officer's account to be taxed is to be made to the county court.
(2) On any such application the court has jurisdiction—
(a) to tax the account—
(i) in such manner, and
(ii) at such time and place,
as the court thinks fit, and
(b) finally to determine the amount payable to the returning officer.
(3) On any such application the returning officer may apply to the court to examine any claim made by any person against the officer in respect of matters charged in the account.
(4) Where an application is made in respect of a claim under subsection (3)—
(a) notice of the application must be given to the claimant;
(b) the court must give the claimant an opportunity to be heard and to tender any evidence;
(c) the court may allow or disallow the claim, with or without costs;
(d) the determination of the court is final for all purposes and as against all persons.
(5) In this section “returning officer” has the same meaning as in section 55.
(1) The Secretary of State ... may by order make provision as to—
(a) the conduct of elections of persons to be police and crime commissioners;
(b) the questioning of such an election and the consequences of irregularities.
(2) The provision which may be made under subsection (1)(a) includes, in particular, provision—
(a) about registration of electors;
(b) for disregarding alterations in a register of electors;
(c) about the registration or other recognition of political parties and other persons incurring expenditure in relation to elections of police and crime commissioners;
(d) about funding and expenditure, in relation to elections of police and crime commissioners, of candidates, political parties and other persons incurring such expenditure;
(e) for the combination of polls at elections of police and crime commissioners and other polls;
(f) for any election held in consequence of any irregularity at an ordinary election to be treated as held at an ordinary election for any of the purposes of this Act.
(3) An order under subsection (1) may—
(a) apply or incorporate, with or without modifications or exceptions, any relevant provision;
(b) modify any form contained in any relevant provision so far as may be necessary to enable it to be used both for the original purpose and in relation to elections for police and crime commissioners;
(c) include provision creating criminal offences.
(4) Provision within paragraph (d) of subsection (2) includes, in particular—
(a) provision prohibiting, or imposing limitations on, funding or expenditure of any kind mentioned in that paragraph, and
(b) provision for treating funding or expenditure of any such kind which does not relate exclusively to an election of police and crime commissioners as being (or not being), wholly or partly, funding or expenditure in relation to which—
(i) any provision within paragraph (a) applies, or
(ii) any relevant provision applies.
(5) The Secretary of State ... may by order make modifications of any relevant provision that are consequential on any provision of—
(a) section 1(4),
(b) this Chapter,
(c) an order under subsection (1), or
(d) regulations under section 54.
(5A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(6) Provision that may be made under subsection (5) includes, in particular, provision modifying any relevant provision so as to apply (with or without modifications)—
(a) in relation to elections for police and crime commissioners as it applies in relation to other elections;
(b) in relation to police and crime commissioners as it applies in relation to persons elected at other elections.
(7) In this section—
“relevant provision” means any provision (whenever passed or made) of, or made under, any of the following—
the Representation of the People Acts,
the Local Government Act 1972,
the Local Government Act 2000,
the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000,
...
the Government of Wales Act 2006, and
any other enactment relating to parliamentary elections ... or local government elections;
“modify” includes amend, repeal or revoke (and related terms are to be read accordingly).
(1) For the purposes of this Chapter, a vacancy in the office of police and crime commissioner for a police area is to be regarded as occurring—
(a) in the case of a vacancy in consequence of the failure of, or other irregularity in relation to, an election, at the time specified in an order under section 58;
(b) in the case of resignation, on receipt of the notice of resignation by the appropriate officer;
(c) in the case of death, on the date of death;
(d) in any case within subsection (2), on the date on which the office of police and crime commissioner for the police area is declared to have been vacated by the High Court or by the appropriate officer, as the case may be.
(e) in the case of disqualification by virtue of an order under section 30 of the Elections Act 2022 (disqualification of offenders for holding elective office etc), on the date the office is vacated in accordance with section 31 of that Act (vacation of office etc).
(2) The cases referred to in subsection (1)(d) are—
(a) where the person elected as police and crime commissioner fails to make and deliver a declaration of acceptance of office in accordance with section 70;
(b) where a vacancy arises under section 63 (incapacity of commissioner: acting commissioner acting for 6 months);
(c) where a person becomes disqualified—
(i) from being a police and crime commissioner, or
(ii) from being the police and crime commissioner for the police area.
(2A) In a case where subsection (1)(e) and (d) (in the case of a disqualification by virtue of section 66(3)(c)) apply in relation to a vacancy, the vacancy is to be regarded as occurring on the date mentioned in subsection (1)(e).
(3) The appropriate officer must give public notice of a vacancy in the office of police and crime commissioner for a police area.
(4) The appropriate officer must give notice of a vacancy in the office of police and crime commissioner for a police area to the police area returning officer.
(5) Any notice under subsection (3) or (4) must be given as soon as practicable after the date on which the vacancy is to be regarded under this section as occurring.
(1) Subsection (2) applies where—
(a) a police and crime commissioner for a police area becomes disqualified (whether by virtue of this or any other Act)—
(i) from being a police and crime commissioner, or
(ii) from being the police and crime commissioner for the police area,
(b) the person elected as police and crime commissioner for a police area fails to make and deliver a declaration of acceptance of office in accordance with section 70, or
(c) a vacancy arises under section 63 (incapacity of commissioner: acting commissioner acting for 6 months).
(2) The appropriate officer must forthwith declare the office of police and crime commissioner for that police area to be vacant, unless—
(a) it has been declared vacant by the High Court, or
(b) an application has been made to the High Court for a declaration under section 71 and the grounds in issue include any ground on which the appropriate officer would (but for this paragraph) make the declaration.
(1) A police and crime commissioner may at any time resign office by giving notice to the appropriate officer.
(2) Any such resignation takes effect on the officer's receipt of the notice.
(1) The police and crime panel for a police area must appoint a person to act as police and crime commissioner for that area (the “acting commissioner”) if—
(a) no person holds the office of police and crime commissioner for that area,
(b) the police and crime commissioner for that area is incapacitated, or
(c) the police and crime commissioner for that area is suspended in accordance with section 30.
(2) The police and crime panel may appoint a person as acting commissioner only if the person is a member of the police and crime commissioner's staff at the time of the appointment.
(3) In appointing a person as acting commissioner in a case where the police and crime commissioner is incapacitated, the police and crime panel must have regard to any representations made by the commissioner in relation to the appointment.
(4) All the functions of a police and crime commissioner are exercisable by an acting commissioner, apart from issuing or varying a police and crime plan under section 5.
(5) Any property or rights vested in the police and crime commissioner may be dealt with by the acting commissioner as if vested in the acting commissioner.
(6) The appointment of an acting commissioner ceases to have effect upon the occurrence of the earliest of these events—
(a) the election of a person as police and crime commissioner;
(b) the termination by the police and crime panel, or by the acting commissioner, of the appointment of the acting commissioner;
(c) in a case where the acting commissioner is appointed because the police and crime commissioner is incapacitated, the commissioner ceasing to be incapacitated;
(d) in a case where the acting commissioner is appointed because the police and crime commissioner is suspended, the commissioner ceasing to be suspended.
(7) In a case where—
(a) the acting commissioner is appointed because the police and crime commissioner is incapacitated or suspended, and
(b) a vacancy subsequently occurs in the office of police and crime commissioner,
the occurrence of that vacancy does not affect the appointment of the acting commissioner (and accordingly subsection (6)(c) or (d) does not apply).
(8) For the purposes of this section—
(a) a police and crime commissioner is incapacitated if the commissioner is unable to exercise the functions of commissioner, except where the commissioner is unable to exercise those functions only because the commissioner has yet to give a declaration of office under section 70; and
(b) it is for the police and crime panel for a police area to determine whether or not the police and crime commissioner for that area is incapacitated.
(9) Subject to subsection (4), a reference in any enactment to a police and crime commissioner includes a reference to an acting commissioner.
63 Vacancy where acting commissioner acts for 6 months
(1) Subsection (2) applies where—
(a) an acting commissioner is appointed under section 62 to act for the police and crime commissioner for a police area because the police and crime commissioner is incapacitated, and
(b) the police and crime commissioner does not cease to be incapacitated during the period of 6 months beginning with the day on which the acting commissioner is appointed.
(2) At the end of that 6 month period—
(a) the police and crime commissioner ceases to be police and crime commissioner, and
(b) accordingly, the office of police and crime commissioner for that police area becomes vacant.
64 Disqualification from election as police and crime commissioner
(1) A person is disqualified from being elected to the office of police and crime commissioner for a police area in England at any election unless—
(a) the person has attained the age of 18 when nominated as a candidate at the election, and
(b) on each relevant day, the person is registered in the register of local government electors for an electoral area in respect of an address in the police area.
(1A) A person is disqualified from being elected to the office of police and crime commissioner for a police area in Wales at any election unless—
(a) the person has attained the age of 18 when nominated as a candidate at the election, and
(b) on each relevant day subsection (1B) or (1C) applies.
(1B) This subsection applies if—
(a) the person is registered in a register of parliamentary electors in respect of an address within the police area, and
(b) the registration is not in pursuance of an overseas elector's declaration.
(1C) This subsection applies if—
(a) the person is disqualified as a peer from voting as an elector at parliamentary elections, or is a qualifying EU citizen or an EU citizen with retained rights, and
(b) the person is registered in a register of local government electors in respect of an address within the police area.
(2) In this section “relevant day”, in relation to a person who is a candidate at an election, means—
(a) the day on which the person is nominated as a candidate at the election;
(b) the day of the poll at the election.
(3) A person is disqualified from being elected to the office of police and crime commissioner for a police area at an ordinary election if the person has been nominated as a candidate for election as police and crime commissioner for any other police area at that election.
(3A) A person is disqualified from being elected to the office of police and crime commissioner for a police area at an ordinary election if the person—
(a) has been nominated as a candidate for election as mayor for the area of a combined authority at an election to be held on the same day; and
(b) by virtue of an order under section 107F(1) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, the mayor would exercise functions of a police and crime commissioner in relation to the area.
(4) A person is disqualified from being elected to the office of police and crime commissioner for a police area at an election other than an ordinary election if—
(a) the person is police and crime commissioner for any other police area, or
(b) the person has been nominated as a candidate for election as police and crime commissioner for any other police area for which an election is held on the same day.
(4A) A person is disqualified from being elected to the office of police and crime commissioner for a police area at an election other than an ordinary election if—
(a) the person is a mayor who, by virtue of an order under section 107F(1) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, exercises functions of a police and crime commissioner for the area of a combined authority; or
(b) the person has been nominated as a candidate for election as a mayor who, by virtue of such an order, would exercise such functions and the election would take place on the same day.
65 Disqualification from election or holding office as police and crime commissioner: police grounds
(1) A person is disqualified from being elected as, or being, a police and crime commissioner if the person—
(a) is disqualified from being a member of the House of Commons under section 1(1)(d) of the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (members of police forces for police areas in the United Kingdom);
(b) is a member of—
(i) the British Transport Police Force;
(ii) the Civil Nuclear Constabulary;
(c) is a special constable appointed—
(i) under section 27 of the Police Act 1996 for a police area or the City of London police area;
(ii) under section 25 of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (British Transport Police Force);
(d) is a member of staff of the chief officer of police of any police force maintained for a police area;
(e) is a member of staff of—
(i) a police and crime commissioner;
(ii) the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime;
(f) is the Mayor of London;
(g) is a member of the Common Council of the City of London or a member of staff of that Council in its capacity as a police authority;
(h) is a member (including a member who is chairman or chief executive), or member of staff, of—
(i) the British Transport Police Authority;
(ii) the Civil Nuclear Police Authority;
(iii) the Independent Office for Police Conduct;
(iv) the Serious Organised Crime Agency;
(v) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(i) holds any employment in an entity which is under the control of—
(i) a local policing body;
(ii) any body mentioned in paragraph (h);
(iii) the chief officer of police for any police force maintained for a police area or the City of London police area;
(iv) the chief officer of police for any police force mentioned in paragraph (b).
(1A) Subsection (1)(e)(i) does not prevent a deputy police and crime commissioner—
(a) from being elected as police and crime commissioner at an ordinary election of police and crime commissioners;
(b) from being elected at an election held under section 51 to fill a vacancy in the office of police and crime commissioner if, on the day on which the person is nominated as a candidate at the election and at all times between that day and the declaration of the result of the election, the deputy is acting as police and crime commissioner under section 62.
(2) In this section, “member of staff”, in relation to any person (“A”), includes a person (“B”) who works for A—
(a) under a contract of employment,
(b) under a contract for services, or
(c) in accordance with arrangements made between B's employer and A;
and for this purpose B works for A if B provides services for A under the direction and control of A.
(3) In subsection (1)(i), the reference to an entity under the control of a local policing body or other body or a chief officer of police is to be construed in accordance with regulations made by the Secretary of State ....
(4) In its application in relation to the first election of a police and crime commissioner to be held for a police area, this section applies as if—
(a) for paragraphs (d) to (g) of subsection (1) there were substituted—
(d) any member, or member of staff, of a police authority within the meaning of the Police Act 1996 (see section 101 of that Act);
, and
(b) for paragraph (i)(i) of that subsection there were substituted—
(i) a police authority within the meaning of the Police Act 1996.
66 Disqualification from election or holding office as police and crime commissioner: other grounds
(1) A person is disqualified from being elected as, or being, a police and crime commissioner unless the person satisfies the citizenship condition (see section 68).
(2) A person is disqualified from being elected as, or being, a police and crime commissioner if the person—
(a) is disqualified from being a member of the House of Commons under section 1(1)(a) to (c) of the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (judges, civil servants, members of the armed forces), or
(b) is a member of the legislature of any country or territory outside the United Kingdom.
(3) A person is disqualified from being elected as, or being, a police and crime commissioner if—
(a) the person is the subject of—
(i) a debt relief restrictions order under paragraph 1 of Schedule 4ZB to the Insolvency Act 1986;
(ii) an interim debt relief restrictions order under paragraph 5 of that Schedule;
(iii) a bankruptcy restrictions order under paragraph 1 of Schedule 4A to that Act;
(iv) a bankruptcy restrictions interim order under paragraph 5 of that Schedule;
(b) a debt relief restrictions undertaking has effect in respect of the person under paragraph 7 of Schedule 4ZB to that Act;
(c) the person has been convicted in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man, of any imprisonable offence (whether or not sentenced to a term of imprisonment in respect of the offence); ...
(d) the person is incapable of being elected as a member of the House of Commons, or is required to vacate a seat in the House of Commons, under Part 3 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (consequences of corrupt or illegal practices); or
(e) the person is incapable of being elected to or holding the office of—
(i) member of the Northern Ireland Assembly having been reported personally guilty or convicted of a corrupt practice under section 114A of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (as applied by Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) Order 2001 (S.I. 2001/2599)) (undue influence);
(ii) member of a district council in Northern Ireland having been reported personally guilty or convicted of a corrupt practice under paragraph 3 of Schedule 9 to the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 (undue influence).
(4) For the purpose of subsection (3)(c)—
(a) “imprisonable offence” means an offence—
(i) for which a person who has attained the age of 18 years may be sentenced to a term of imprisonment, or
(ii) for which, in the case of such a person, the sentence is fixed by law as life imprisonment;
(b) a person is to be treated as having been convicted—
(i) on the expiry of the ordinary period allowed for an appeal or application in respect of the conviction, or
(ii) if an appeal or application is made in respect of the conviction, when the appeal or application is finally disposed of or abandoned or fails by reason of non-prosecution.
(5) A person is disqualified from being elected as, or being, police and crime commissioner for a police area if the person—
(a) is a member of staff of a relevant council, or
(b) holds any employment in an entity which is under the control of a relevant council within subsection (7)(a), (b), (c) or (f).
(6) For this purpose—
“member of staff” has the same meaning as in section 65;
“relevant council”, in relation to a police area, means a council within subsection (7) for an area which, or any part of which, lies within the police area.
(7) Those councils are—
(a) a county council;
(b) a county borough council;
(c) a district council;
(d) a parish council;
(e) a community council;
(f) the Council of the Isles of Scilly.
(8) In subsection (5)(b), the reference to an entity under the control of a relevant council is to be construed in accordance with regulations made by the Secretary of State ....
(9) Nothing in subsection (5) is to be taken to disqualify a person by virtue of being a teacher, or otherwise employed, in a school or other educational institution maintained or assisted by a relevant council.
(10) Subsection (11) applies to the police and crime commissioner for a police area if, by virtue of an order under section 4A of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004, the person who is for the time being the commissioner for that area is also the fire rescue authority for an area which corresponds to or falls within the police area.
(11) A person is disqualified from being elected as, or being, that police and crime commissioner if the person is employed by—
(a) a fire and rescue authority within section 1(2) or (3) of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004,
(b) a fire and rescue authority constituted by a scheme under section 2 of that Act or a scheme to which section 4 of that Act relates, or
(c) a fire and rescue authority created by an order under section 4A of that Act.
(12) A person is disqualified from being elected as, or being, police and crime commissioner if the person—
(a) is the London Fire Commissioner, or
(b) is a member of the staff of the London Fire Commissioner.
67 Disqualification of person holding office as police and crime commissioner
A person becomes disqualified from being a police and crime commissioner upon becoming a member of—
(a) the House of Commons;
(b) the Scottish Parliament;
(c) the National Assembly for Wales;
(d) the Northern Ireland Assembly;
(e) the European Parliament.
(1) This section applies for the purposes of section 66.
(2) A person satisfies the citizenship condition if the person is—
(a) a qualifying Commonwealth citizen,
(b) a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, or
(c) a qualifying EU citizen or an EU citizen with retained rights.
(3) For the purposes of this section, a person is a qualifying Commonwealth citizen if the person is a Commonwealth citizen and—
(a) is not a person who requires leave under the Immigration Act 1971 to enter or remain in the United Kingdom, or
(b) is a person who requires such leave but for the time being has (or is, by virtue of any enactment, to be treated as having) indefinite leave to remain within the meaning of that Act.
(4) But a person who does not require leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom by virtue only of section 8 of the Immigration Act 1971 (exceptions to requirement for leave in special cases) is not a qualifying Commonwealth citizen by virtue of subsection (3)(a).
(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The acts of a person elected as police and crime commissioner for a police area under this Chapter who acts in that office are, despite any disqualification—
(a) from being, or being elected as, a police and crime commissioner, or
(b) from being, or being elected as police and crime commissioner for that area,
as valid and effectual as if the person had not been so disqualified.
70 Declaration of acceptance of office of police and crime commissioner
(1) A person elected to the office of police and crime commissioner for any police area may not act in that office unless the person has—
(a) made a declaration of acceptance of the office in a form specified in an order made by the Secretary of State ..., and
(b) delivered the declaration to the appropriate officer,
in each case, when not ineligible by virtue of subsection (5).
(2) If the person fails to make and deliver a declaration in accordance with subsection (1) within the period of two months beginning with the day after the election, the office of police and crime commissioner for that area becomes vacant at the end of the period.
(3) Any declaration made under this section must be made before—
(a) the appropriate officer;
(b) a justice of the peace or magistrate in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, or
(c) a commissioner appointed to administer oaths in the Senior Courts.
(4) Any person before whom a declaration is authorised to be made under this section may take the declaration.
(5) A person is ineligible to make or give a declaration of acceptance of office under this section in respect of the office of police and crime commissioner for a police area at any time when the person is a member of—
(a) the House of Commons;
(b) the Scottish Parliament;
(c) the National Assembly for Wales;
(d) the Northern Ireland Assembly;
(e) the European Parliament.
(6) No salary, and no payment towards the provision of superannuation benefits, is to be paid under this Act to or in respect of a police and crime commissioner until the commissioner has complied with the requirements of subsection (1).
(7) Subsection (6) does not affect any entitlement of a police and crime commissioner to payments in respect of the period before the commissioner complies with the requirements of subsection (1) once the commissioner has complied with those requirements.
71 Judicial proceedings as to disqualification or vacancy
(1) Any person who claims that a person purporting to be a police and crime commissioner for a police area is, or at any time since being elected has been, disqualified—
(a) from being a police and crime commissioner; or
(b) from being police and crime commissioner for the police area,
may apply to the High Court for a declaration to that effect, and that accordingly the office of police and crime commissioner for the area is vacant.
(2) An application under subsection (1) in respect of any person may be made whether the grounds on which it is made are alleged to have subsisted at the time when the person was elected or to have arisen subsequently.
(3) No declaration may be made under this section in respect of any person on grounds which subsisted when the person was elected, if an election petition under an order under section 58 is pending or has been tried in which the person's disqualification on those grounds is or was in issue.
(4) Any person who claims that a person purporting to be a police and crime commissioner for a police area has ceased to be the police and crime commissioner for the police area by virtue of—
(a) section 63, or
(b) section 70,
may apply to the High Court for a declaration to that effect.
(5) On an application under this section—
(a) the person in respect of whom the application is made is to be the respondent, and
(b) the applicant must give such security for the costs of the proceedings as the court may direct.
(6) The amount of the security may not exceed £5,000 or such other sum as the Secretary of State ... may specify by order.
(7) The decision of the court on an application under this section is final.
72 Amendment of police areas: term of office of commissioner
(1) Subsection (2) applies where a person becomes police and crime commissioner for a resulting police area by virtue of, or of an election required to be held by, a police area alteration order.
(2) The person's term of office as police and crime commissioner ends at the time when it would end had the person been elected as police and crime commissioner at the previous ordinary election of commissioners in England or, as the case may be, Wales.
(3) In this section—
“police area alteration order” means—
an order under section 32 of the Police Act 1996 (power to alter police areas by order);
an order under section 10 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (implementation of Boundary Committee for England review of local government areas) which alters the boundary of any police area in England;
an order under section 45 of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru etc. Act 2013 (recommendations for changes to police areas) which alters the boundary of any police area in Wales;
“resulting police area”, in relation to a police area alteration order, means a police area existing immediately after the order comes into force—
which is created by the order, or
any part of whose boundary results from the order.
(4) References in this section to the coming into force of a police area alteration order are references to the changes in police areas made by the order taking effect.
73 Computation of time and timing of elections etc
(1) Subsection (2) applies where the day, or the last day, on which anything is required or permitted to be done by or under section 50, 51 or 70 is not a business day.
(2) The requirement or permission is deemed to relate instead to the first business day after that day.
(3) Where under subsection (2) the day of an election is postponed, the day to which it is postponed is to be treated as the day of election for the purpose of—
(a) any provision of, or made under, this Act, or
(b) any relevant provision (within the meaning of section 58).
(4) Any day which is not a business day is to be disregarded in computing any period of time for the purpose of section 51.
(5) In this section, “business day” means a day other than—
a Saturday,
a Sunday,
Christmas Eve,
Christmas Day,
Good Friday,
a bank holiday, or
a day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning.
(1) For each police area, other than the metropolitan police district, the Secretary of State ... must by order designate a local authority.
(2) In this Chapter, the “appropriate officer”, means—
(a) in relation to a police area in England, the head of paid service of the local authority designated for that police area;
(b) in relation to a police area in Wales, the chief executive of the local authority designated for that police area.
(3) In this section—
“chief executive” means the person appointed by a county council or county borough council in Wales under section 54 of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021;
“local authority” means—
a district council,
a county council in England for a county in which there are no district councils,
the Council of the Isles of Scilly,
a county council or county borough council in Wales;
“head of paid service”, in relation to a council in England, means the person designated by the council under section 4(1)(a) of the Local Government Act 1989.
In this Chapter, the following terms have the following meanings, unless the context otherwise requires—
“appropriate officer” has the meaning given by section 75;
“elector”—
in relation to an election of a police and crime commissioner, means a person entitled to vote at the election;
in relation to a local government election, has the same meaning as in the Representation of the People Act 1983 (see section 202 of that Act);
“electoral area” has the same meaning as in that Act as it applies in relation to England and Wales (see section 203 of that Act);
“local government election” has the same meaning as in that Act as it applies in relation to England and Wales (see section 203 of that Act);
“local government elector” means a person registered as a local government elector in the register of electors in accordance with the provisions of the Representation of the People Acts;
“ordinary election” has the meaning given in section 50;
“police area returning officer” has the meaning given by section 54.
Schedule 10A makes provision about cases where a mayor is to exercise functions in accordance with—
(a) section 107F(1A) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, or
(b) section 33(1A) of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023.
(1) For section 37A of the Police Act 1996 (setting of strategic priorities for police authorities), substitute—
The strategic policing requirement
37A (1) The Secretary of State must, from time to time, issue a document (the “strategic policing requirement”) which sets out what, in the Secretary of State's view, are—
(a) national threats at the time the document is issued, and
(b) appropriate national policing capabilities to counter those national threats.
(2) A chief officer of police must, in exercising the functions of chief officer, have regard to the strategic policing requirement.
(3) Before issuing the strategic policing requirement, the Secretary of State—
(a) must obtain the advice of—
(i) such persons as appear to the Secretary of State to represent the views of chief officers of police, and
(ii) such persons as appear to the Secretary of State to represent the views of local policing bodies, and
(b) must consult such other persons as the Secretary of State thinks fit.
(4) The strategic policing requirement need not set out a national threat (in particular) if, in the Secretary of State's view, countering the threat would involve police forces other than England and Wales police forces (and only those other police forces).
(5) References in this section to national policing capabilities to counter a threat are references to the ability of all England and Wales police forces—
(a) to exercise one or more functions to counter that threat,
(b) to exercise one or more functions in one or more particular ways to counter that threat, or
(c) to exercise one or more functions in accordance with common operational standards to counter that threat.
(6) In this section—
“England and Wales police force” means—
a police force maintained under section 2,
the metropolitan police force, and
the City of London police force;
“national threat” means a threat (whether actual or prospective) which is—
a threat to national security, public safety, public order or public confidence that is of such gravity as to be of national importance, or
a threat which can be countered effectively or efficiently only by national policing capabilities to counter the threat.
.
The Secretary of State must exercise the powers conferred by this Part in such manner and to such extent as appears to the Secretary of State to be best calculated to promote the efficiency and effectiveness of the police.