Police Act 1996

Selection panels

1 (1) There shall be a selection panel for each police area for the time being listed in Schedule 1.

(2) Each selection panel shall consist of three members, one of whom shall be appointed by each of the following—

(a) the designated members of the police authority for the area;

(b) the Secretary of State;

(c) the two members of the panel appointed by virtue of paragraphs (a) and (b).

(3) A designated member may be appointed as a member of a selection panel by virtue of paragraph (a) (but not paragraph (b) or (c)) of sub-paragraph (2).

(4) In this Schedule“designated member” means a member appointed under paragraph 2 or 8 of Schedule 2.

2 A person shall be disqualified for being appointed as or being a member of a selection panel if, by virtue of paragraph 10, 11, 13 or 14(1)(d) to (f) of Schedule 2, he is disqualified—

(a) for being appointed under paragraph 5 of that Schedule as a member of the police authority for the panel’s area, or

(b) for being a member so appointed.

3 (1) A person shall be appointed to hold office as a member of a selection panel for a term of two years, or for a term expiring on his attaining seventy years of age, whichever is the shorter.

(2) A person may at any time resign his office as a member by notice in writing to the persons who under paragraph 1 would be required to appoint his successor.

(3) A person shall not cease to be a member by reason only that any of the persons appointing him cease to hold the positions by virtue of which they appointed him.

4 A member of a selection panel may be removed from office by notice in writing by the persons who, under paragraph 1, would be required to appoint his successor (“the appointer”) if—

(a) the member has been absent from two consecutive meetings of the selection panel without the consent of the panel,

(b) the member has been convicted of a criminal offence (but is not disqualified for being a member under paragraph 2),

(c) the appointer is satisfied that the member is incapacitated by physical or mental illness, or

(d) the appointer is satisfied that the member is otherwise unable or unfit to discharge his functions as a member.

5 A person who ceases to be a member of a selection panel, otherwise than by virtue of paragraph 4, may (if otherwise eligible) be re-appointed.

6 (1) The acts and proceedings of any person appointed to be a member of a selection panel and acting in that office shall, notwithstanding his disqualification or want of qualification, be as valid and effectual as if he had been qualified.

(2) Subject to the provisions of any regulations made under paragraph 11, the proceedings of a selection panel shall not be invalidated by—

(a) a vacancy in the membership of the panel, or

(b) a defect in the appointment of a person as a member.

7 (1) A police authority shall make to members of the selection panel for the authority’s area such payments by way of reimbursement of expenses and allowances as it may determine.

(2) A police authority shall—

(a) provide the selection panel for the authority’s area with such accommodation, and such secretarial and other assistance, as they may reasonably require, and

(b) meet any expenses incurred by the panel in the exercise of their functions.