The Police (Appointment of Police Authorities and Chief Constables) Order 1973

Appointment of first chief constables of new police force

5.—(1) The following provisions of this Article shall apply to the appointment of the first chief constable of a police force for a police area which is to be established on 1st April 1974 (in this Article referred to as a new police area) in place of Regulation 14 of the Police Regulations 1971(1) and section 4(2) of the Police Act 1964 and any other enactment in that behalf.

(2) Where the new police area is co-extensive with, or wholly comprised in, a single police area existing immediately before 1st April 1974, the chief constable (if any) of the police force for the latter area shall become the chief constable of the police force for the new police area unless he has notified the police authority therefor that he does not with this paragraph to apply in this case.

(3) In the case of any other new police area, the police authority therefor shall, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State and to paragraph (4) below, appoint as chief constable of the police force for that area one of the chief constables of the police forces for the police areas existing immediately before 1st April 1974 which are wholly or partly comprised in the new area.

(4) If the Secretary of State is satisfied, having regard to the size and character of the police force mentioned in paragraph (3) above and any exceptional circumstances, that a person not mentioned in that paragraph should be appointed chief constable of that police force, the police authority shall, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State, appoint some other person as chief constable.

(5) A person who becomes, or is appointed, chief constable of a police force for a new police area under this Article shall be deemed to have been appointed under section 4(2) of the Police Act 1964.