Tenure of officeE+W
16Subject to the following paragraphs (and to the provisions of any order under section 3A(2) of this Act), a person shall hold and vacate office as a member of a police authority in accordance with the terms of his appointment.
17(1)A person shall be appointed to hold office as a member for—
(a)a term of four years or a term expiring on his attaining the age of seventy years, whichever is the shorter, or
(b)such shorter term as the body appointing him may determine in any particular case.
(2)A person shall not, by virtue of sub-paragraph (1)(b) of this paragraph, be appointed under paragraph 5 of this Schedule for a term shorter than four years without the approval of the Secretary of State.
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
18(1)A person may at any time resign his office as a member, or as chairman, by notice in writing to the police authority.
(2)Where a member appointed under paragraph 5 of this Schedule resigns his office as a member under sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph, he shall send a copy of the notice to the Secretary of State.
19(1)A member of a relevant council appointed to be a member of a police authority under paragraph 2 of this Schedule shall cease to be a member of the authority if he ceases to be a member of the council (and does not on the same day again become a member of the council).
(2)A magistrate appointed to be a member of a police authority under paragraph 8 of this Schedule shall cease to be a member of the authority if he ceases to be a magistrate for an area all or part of which constitutes or forms part of the authority’s area.
20(1)A police authority may remove a member from office by notice in writing if—
(a)he has been absent from meetings of the police authority for a period longer than three consecutive months without the consent of the authority,
(b)he has been convicted of a criminal offence (but is not disqualified for being a member under paragraph 12 of this Schedule),
(c)the police authority is satisfied that the member is incapacitated by physical or mental illness, or
(d)the police authority is satisfied that the member is otherwise unable or unfit to discharge his functions as a member.
(2)Where a police authority removes a member under sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph, it shall give notice of that fact—
(a)in the case of a member appointed under paragraph 2 or 8 of this Schedule, to the body which appointed him, and
(b)in the case of a member appointed under paragraph 5, to the Secretary of State.
21A council or joint committee may remove from office a member of a police authority appointed by it under paragraph 2 of this Schedule with a view to appointing another in his place if it considers that to do so would further the object provided for by paragraph 4.
22If a chairman of a police authority ceases to be a member, he shall also cease to be chairman.