Voluntary retirement
18.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) to (4), a regular police officer may retire on or after the date on which he attains the age of 55 years.
(2) A regular police officer who intends to retire under this regulation shall give the police authority written notice of that intention—
(a)in the case of an officer of the rank of —
(i)Chief Constable, Deputy Chief Constable or Assistant Chief Constable, or
(ii)Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner or Commander in the City of London police force, or
(iii)Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, Deputy Assistant Commissioner or Commander in the Metropolitan police force
at least three months before his intended date of retirement, and
(b)in the case of an officer of any other rank at least one month before his intended date of retirement:
Provided that a police authority may, in their discretion, accept such shorter notice than that specified in sub-paragraph (a) or (b), as the case may be, as they may determine.
(3) For the purposes of this regulation—
(a)an inspector of constabulary shall be deemed to hold the rank and office of Chief Constable;
(b)an assistant inspector of constabulary shall be deemed to hold the rank of Chief Superintendent; and
(c)any other police officer engaged on relevant service shall be deemed to hold the rank in which he is entitled to revert to his home police force at the end of his period of relevant service.
(4) A regular police officer who is suspended under the Conduct Regulations may retire under this regulation only if consent to do so is given—
(a)by the police authority in the case of an officer falling within paragraph (2)(a), or
(b)by the chief officer of police in the case of an officer of any other rank.